SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Cho WK, Ko AC, Eatamadi H, Al-Ali A, Abboud JP, Kikkawa DO, Korn BS. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 2017; 180: 46-54.

Affiliation

Division of Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, UC San Diego Department of Surgery, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address: bkorn@ucsd.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ajo.2017.05.018

PMID

28554552

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 two 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, three were less than 2 years of age, and one was 34 years old. Accidents were witnessed in two cases, and initial detections of FBs were delayed in three cases from 2 days to 7 weeks. Three cases involved the right orbit. CT imaging of the head demonstrated penetration of the orbital walls in three cases. Three-dimensional CT scans were used to differentiate the penetrating graphite pencil fragments from the orbital wall, and catheter angiography was utilized in one case of suspected orbital apex penetration. Vision was lost in one 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.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.


Language: en

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print