Resumo

VARELLA, Rosângela; RESENDE, Rodrigo  e  SANTORO, Flávia. Removal of foreign bodies from the orbital cavity: a case report. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2012, vol.12, n.3, pp. 25-30. ISSN 1808-5210.

The intrusion of foreign bodies into the orbital cavity usually occurs through direct and penetrating trauma. Depending on the location and composition of the foreign body, the diagnosis can be made by direct observation or by the analysis of imaging studies. Conventional radiography, ultrasound, CAT scans and MRI are used as auxiliary investigations in the diagnosis. However, the nature of some foreign bodies can make their identification difficult, even with the use of imaging techniques. The presence of foreign bodies in the orbital cavity may result in orbital cellulitis, eye lesions, adjacent skin lesions, blindness, partial loss of visual acuity, among other complications. The aim of this study was to report the clinical case of a female dark-skinned patient, aged 17, injured by a piece of wood directly onto her left orbit. The patient developed orbital cellulitis, which was unresponsive to conventional antibiotic therapy, and loss of visual acuity. Radiography of the face did not reveal the retention of any foreign bodies. Computed tomography of the orbital cavity revealed images with a density similar to that of air were observed. The patient underwent exploratory surgery under general anesthesia at Hospital Miguel Couto - RJ, resulting in the removal of many wood fragments from the orbital cavity and the resulting remission of the infectious process.

Palavras-chave : Foreign body; Orbital cavity; orbital trauma..