ABSTRACT
Orbital emphysema is the abnormal presence of air in the orbit. Occurrence in the absence of orbital fracture is rare. We report a case of a 40-year-old female presenting unilateral orbital emphysema after vigorous nose blowing. She developed sudden visual loss as a result of elevated intraocular pressure and urgent treatment was required. She underwent an orbital decompression, performed using a 24-gauge needle puncture adjacent to the supraorbital notch. After treatment, she reported considerable decrease of symptoms.
Subject(s)
Emphysema/etiology , Ocular Hypertension/etiology , Orbital Diseases/etiology , Adult , Decompression , Emphysema/therapy , Female , Humans , Ocular Hypertension/therapy , Orbital Diseases/therapy , Punctures , Treatment Outcome , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
O enfisema orbitário é caracterizado pela presença anormal de ar na órbita. Sua ocorrência espontânea não é frequente e a maioria dos casos está associada à fratura de órbita. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino de 40 anos com quadro de enfisema orbitário unilateral, secundário a asseio vigoroso do nariz. A paciente evoluiu com redução aguda da acuidade visual em decorrência de elevação da pressão intraocular, sendo indicado tratamento de urgência. Foi realizada punção orbitária com agulha 24-gauge próximo à região da incisura supraorbital, com melhora imediata do quadro clínico e recuperação da acuidade visual.
Orbital emphysema is the abnormal presence of air in the orbit. Occurrence in the absence of orbital fracture is rare. We report a case of a 40-year-old female presenting unilateral orbital emphysema after vigorous nose blowing. She developed sudden visual loss as a result of elevated intraocular pressure and urgent treatment was required. She underwent an orbital decompression, performed using a 24-gauge needle puncture adjacent to the supraorbital notch. After treatment, she reported considerable decrease of symptoms.