Won-Kyung Cho1, Audrey C Ko2, Habibullah Eatamadi3, Abdelqadir Al-Ali3, Jean-Paul Abboud2, Don O Kikkawa4, Bobby S Korn5. 1. Division of Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, La Jolla, California; Department of Ophthalmology, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. 2. Division of Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, La Jolla, California. 3. Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 4. Division of Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, La Jolla, California; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Surgery, La Jolla, California. 5. Division of Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, La Jolla, California; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Surgery, La Jolla, California. Electronic address: bkorn@ucsd.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To emphasize the importance of early detection and radiologic evaluation of retained organic foreign bodies (FBs) in orbital or orbitocranial penetrating injuries by pencil. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients who had penetrating orbital or orbitocranial trauma at 2 tertiary hospitals was conducted. Patients whose mechanism of injury was penetrating trauma by pencil were included. The patients' demographics, time between initial trauma and detection of foreign body, radiologic images, and resulting sequelae were reviewed. RESULTS: Four patients were included in this study. All patients were male; 3 were less than 2 years of age and 1 was 34 years old. Accidents were witnessed in 2 cases, and initial detections of FBs were delayed in 3 cases, from 2 days to 7 weeks. Three cases involved the right orbit. Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the head demonstrated penetration of the orbital walls in 3 cases. Three-dimensional CT scans were used to differentiate the penetrating graphite pencil fragments from the orbital wall, and catheter angiography was used in 1 case of suspected orbital apex penetration. Vision was lost in 1 patient while other severe neurologic deficits were fully recovered after removal of FB. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating injury by pencils to the periorbital structures and delayed detection of retained pencil fragments can result in threat to life and vision. Radiologic examinations are essential to the detection of these retained FBs. Prompt detection and removal of the FBs within 48 hours and treatment with antibiotics can save vision and life.
PURPOSE: To emphasize the importance of early detection and radiologic evaluation of retained organic foreign bodies (FBs) in orbital or orbitocranial penetrating injuries by pencil. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients who had penetrating orbital or orbitocranial trauma at 2 tertiary hospitals was conducted. Patients whose mechanism of injury was penetrating trauma by pencil were included. The patients' demographics, time between initial trauma and detection of foreign body, radiologic images, and resulting sequelae were reviewed. RESULTS: Four patients were included in this study. All patients were male; 3 were less than 2 years of age and 1 was 34 years old. Accidents were witnessed in 2 cases, and initial detections of FBs were delayed in 3 cases, from 2 days to 7 weeks. Three cases involved the right orbit. Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the head demonstrated penetration of the orbital walls in 3 cases. Three-dimensional CT scans were used to differentiate the penetrating graphite pencil fragments from the orbital wall, and catheter angiography was used in 1 case of suspected orbital apex penetration. Vision was lost in 1 patient while other severe neurologic deficits were fully recovered after removal of FB. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating injury by pencils to the periorbital structures and delayed detection of retained pencil fragments can result in threat to life and vision. Radiologic examinations are essential to the detection of these retained FBs. Prompt detection and removal of the FBs within 48 hours and treatment with antibiotics can save vision and life.