Preoperative and Intraoperative CT Imaging for Orbital Foreign Bodies Identification and Surgical Planning in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate sensitivity of intraoperative Computed Tomography (iCT) imaging for the detection of orbital foreign bodies (OFBs) in an in vitro model and evaluate iCT efficacy for surgical planning of OFB detection and removal in veterinary patients. Three canine patients were presented to our hospital for potential orbital foreign body removal. In vitro studies were conducted using a canine skull model with placement of various OFBs. Four different examiners utilized CT imaging to evaluate the detection of OFBs. A surgical navigation system was employed to assess the feasibility of stereotactic orbital foreign body retrieval in vitro. iCT imaging was applied for surgical planning and guidance of orbital surgery for the removal of OFBs in three clinical patients. In vitro experiments revealed a high detection rate for objects with high radiopacity such as metal and glass. The detection rate for organic foreign bodies such as wood was moderate, while for plastic foreign bodies ranged from moderate to low. Navigation was successfully used for OFB retrieval. iCT was effectively employed for detecting OFBs in clinical patients. However, porcupine quills were better detected using standard ultrasound imaging. The use of iCT potentially represents an evolving technological practice that enables real-time imaging to improve the precision of surgical procedures.

Keywords

• computed tomography
• orbit
• foreign body
• surgery