Intraorbital Foreign Bodies: Clinical Features and Outcomes of Surgical Removal

Abstract

BACKGROUND The present study is an evaluation of clinical features and management outcomes of patients operated on for intraorbital foreign bodies (FBs). METHODS Medical records of 24 patients who underwent surgery for intraorbital FBs within a 10-year period were reviewed. RESULTS Twenty patients (83%) were male and 4 (17%) were female (mean age: 28 years; range: 4-69 years). Ten patients (42%) presented within 48 hours of injury, 7 (29%) within 3 days to 1 month, and 7 (29%) more than 1 month after injury. FBs were inorganic in 19 patients (79%), and organic in 5 (21%). Major ocular morbidities were orbital cellulitis (n=5), traumatic optic neuropathy (n=3), globe perforation (n=2), and rupture of rectus muscle (n=2). FBs could be completely removed in all cases. Mean follow-up time was 26 months (range: 1 month-10 years). CONCLUSION Intraorbital FBs are usually inorganic and metallic, and occur more frequently in young males. Orbital cellulitis, considered typical for organic FBs, may also occur with metallic that perforate lacrimal sac or paranasal sinuses. With appropriate caution, intraorbital FBs can be removed safely with current orbitotomy techniques.