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Orbital emphysema: How common, how significant?

1994; Elsevier BV; Volume: 24; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0196-0644(94)70241-1

1097-6760

Richard B. Birrer, Timothy Robinson, Paula Papachristos,

Traumatic Ocular and Foreign Body Injuries

To describe the natural history of orbital emphysema and its management in the emergency setting.Retrospective medical record review.Inner-city integrated hospital system (four divisions) including one Level I trauma center.All cases of orbital floor fracture and orbital emphysema from January 1, 1988, to December 31, 1993.The average patient was aged 33 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 7 to 1. Trauma was the underlying etiology in all patients. Seventy-four percent of patients required hospitalization, and 43% developed significant complications. Eighty-three percent were managed with antibiotics. Orbital emphysema was identified on conventional radiographs in 65% of cases.Identification of orbital emphysema in the ED should prompt a careful search for associated injury. Consultation should be sought in the presence of orbital or ocular injury. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not necessary for clean wounds.