Clinical and radiological features of traumatic orbital emphysema cases

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical course and treatment requirements of orbital emphysema cases resulting from orbital trauma.Material and Method: We included the 112 orbits of 82 patients who had presented to the emergency service of our hospital between 2016 and 2019 in this retrospective study. The common feature was severe orbital trauma due to various causes and referrals to the ophthalmology department with a preliminary diagnosis of ocular or orbital damage. The orbital computerized tomography images were evaluated for orbital emphysema and a classification was performed according to the location of the air as preseptal, extraconal, intraconal and intraocular. Results: We included a total of 82 subjects consisting of 65 males and 17 females in the study. The mean age was 37.85 (3-78) years in general, 36.09 (3-78) years in the males, and 44.58 (15-78) years in the females. Emphysema was present in the preseptal area in 80 cases, the extraconal area in 26, and the intraconal area in 5 of the 112 orbits. Intraocular emphysema was detected in only a single case. The orbital compartment syndrome was not present in any of our cases.Conclusion: Orbital emphysema is a common condition in orbital trauma. It may be associated with the orbital compartment syndrome. Orbital emphysema after orbital trauma is usually a benign, self-limiting condition.

Keywords

• orbital trauma
• orbital tomograph
• orbital emphysema
• orbital travma
• orbita tomografisi
• orbital amfizem