Orbital infarction syndrome after multiple percutaneous sclerotherapy sessions for facial low-flow vascular malformation: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Vision loss following sclerotherapy for facial vascular malformations (VMs) is a rare but detrimental complication. Here, we report a case of an 11-year-old boy with acute onset blepharoptosis, ophthalmoplegia, and blindness in his right eye after the 14 th sclerotherapy session (percutaneous intralesional injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate) for a right facial low-flow VM without orbital involvement. Computed tomography angiography revealed no contrast enhancement in the right ophthalmic artery, superior ophthalmic vein, or extraocular muscles. He presented with the hallmarks of orbital infarction syndrome: Clear signs of anterior and posterior segment ischemia and disrupted arterial flow to the extraocular muscles. His blepharoptosis and eye movement improved 4 months later; however, he remained blind, and phthisis bulbi developed eventually. Thus, sclerotherapy for facial VM-even without orbital involvement--may result in severe ocular and orbital complications.

Keywords

• Low-flow vascular malformation
• orbital infarction syndrome
• sclerotherapy
• sodium tetradecyl sulfate