Orbital Emphysema Causing Eye Movement Restriction Without Orbital Fractures Due to Compressed Air Injury

Yun Jung; Ho Seok Moon; Jee Woong Jung; Mi Jung Chi

doi:10.3341/jkos.2013.54.1.180

Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.54(1) > 1009549

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Jung, Moon, Jung, and Chi: Orbital Emphysema Causing Eye Movement Restriction Without Orbital Fractures Due to Compressed Air Injury

Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2013;54(1):180-183.

Published online: 25 September 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2013.54.1.180

Orbital Emphysema Causing Eye Movement Restriction Without Orbital Fractures Due to Compressed Air Injury

Yun Jung, MD¹, Ho Seok Moon, MD¹, Jee Woong Jung, MD², Mi Jung Chi, MD, PhD^1,

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea

²Osan Bright Eye Clinic, Osan, Korea

Address reprint requests to Mi Jung Chi, MD, PhD Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center #34 Namdong-daero 774beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon 405-760, Korea Tel: 82-32-460-3364, Fax: 82-32-460-3358, E-mail: cmj@gilhospital.com

Received 10 February 2012 Accepted 21 May 2012

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The authors experienced a case of orbital emphysema causing eye movement disorder following conjunctival tear without any orbital wall fractures after exposure to compressed air.

Case summary

A 28-year-old man's left periorbital area was injured while working with compressed air. There was marked lid swelling on the left side with palpable crepitus. The patient had an exotropia and hypertropia of the left eye. In addition, the extraocular movement of the left eye was restricted on upgaze without nausea and vomiting. On slit-lamp examination, conjunctival partial laceration and subconjunctival air bubbles adjacent to the conjunctival laceration could be seen. Orbital computed tomography showed air in the periorbital and retrobulbar region of the left eye and no evidence of orbital fracture. On examination 4 days after the primary repair of the conjunctival laceration, the patient completely recovered without any complication.

Conclusions

Orbital emphysema following a conjunctival laceration caused by compressed air without any orbital wall fractures can cause restriction of eye movement.

Keywords: Compressed air, Conjunctival laceration, Orbital emphysema

References

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Figure 1.

On slitlamp examination, subconjunctival air bubbles (A, black arrow) and conjunctival partial laceration (B, white arrows) could be seen.

Figure 2.

He had an exotropia and hypertropia of the left eye (A). And the extraocular movement of left eye was restricted on upgaze (B).

Figure 3.

Orbital CT scan shows air in the retrobulbar (A, white arrow), subconjunctival (B, black arrow), and subcutaneous (C, thick white arrow) area. Superior rectus muscle is downwardly positioned. There aren't any orbital wall fractures.

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