Transnasal endoscopic removal of orbital, ethmoid sinus, and anterior skull base foreign body with mucocele formation.

OBJECTIVES: 1. Case report of foreign body and associated orbitoethmoid and skull base mucocele following orbital blowout fracture repair. 2. Literature review of orbital fracture repair complications and endoscopic removal of paranasal sinus and anterior skull base foreign body.
DESIGN: Case report and literature review.
SETTING: Tertiary-care academic otolaryngology practice.
RESULTS: Foreign body involvement of the orbit, paranasal sinuses, and skull base are relatively rare entities. In contrast, orbital blowout fractures are relatively common facial fractures. We report skull base involvement of a previously placed orbital floor implant complicated by mucocele formation and exophthalmos. Successful endoscopic removal and decompression of foreign body and associated mucocele were accomplished. Review of orbital floor fracture repair complications and paranasal sinus and skull base foreign body endoscopic removal were also performed.
CONCLUSIONS: Transnasal endoscopic removal of complicated foreign bodies involving the orbit, paranasal sinuses, and anterior skull base can be successfully accomplished given appropriate patient selection and careful technique.