• Users Online: 46136
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page

   Table of Contents      
CASE REPORT
Year : 2020  |  Volume : 68  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 219-221

An unusual case of orbitocranial wooden foreign body with amazing outcome: A case report


1 DNB Resident, Department of Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
2 Senior Consultant, Department of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
3 Medical Director, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India

Date of Submission24-Mar-2019
Date of Acceptance21-Aug-2019
Date of Web Publication19-Dec-2019

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Shyam Sundar Das Mohapatra
Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, 96, Basistha Road, Guwahati - 781 028, Assam
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_569_19

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 


Penetrating orbitocranial injuries can present with foreign body/bodies (FBs) lodged in eye, orbit, and/or brain. But limited literatures are available about FBs lodged partly in orbit and partly intracranially. Here, we present a rare case of orbitocranial wooden FB impacted in right palpebral aperture extending intracranially following accidental fall from height. Unexpectedly, the patient himself removed the FB in fully conscious and oriented state while waiting for neurosurgical intervention, later completely recovered under observation and antibiotic prophylaxis. Therefore, it is important to have high suspicion of intracranial extension in impacted orbital FBs and a team approach for managing such cases.

Keywords: Accidental, intracranially, orbit, penetrating orbitocranial injuries, orbitocranial wooden [bamboo] foreign body


How to cite this article:
Mohapatra SS, Das J, Bhattacharjee H. An unusual case of orbitocranial wooden foreign body with amazing outcome: A case report. Indian J Ophthalmol 2020;68:219-21

How to cite this URL:
Mohapatra SS, Das J, Bhattacharjee H. An unusual case of orbitocranial wooden foreign body with amazing outcome: A case report. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 28];68:219-21. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2020/68/1/219/273254



Penetrating orbitocranial injuries are uncommon nowadays.[1] These injuries most commonly occur following accidents,[2] followed by assaults, terror attacks, war, etc. and can be caused by several unusual objects.[3] These injuries account for 24% of all penetrating head injuries in adults and approximately 45% in children.[4] Foreign body/bodies (FBs) due to such injuries can lodge in eye, orbit, and/or brain. However, FB lying partly in orbit and partly intracranially is rarely noted.[5] There is very limited literature available on this topic. Here, we report a rare case of orbitocranial FB managed by us and supported by valuable imaging.


  Case Report Top


A 55-year-old male patient had reported to our hospital with history of injury to right eye following fall from a height with complains of pain and a FB has entered into his right eye. As stated, the patient had climbed a tree to collect woods and while he was chopping a branch of the tree, he suddenly fell from the tree over a wooden [bamboo] fence below and a twig had got broken and entered into his right eye. There was no history of unconsciousness following the injury. No history of any other illness or injury was present except he was diabetic and hypertensive. He had come to our hospital about 13 h after the injury had occurred. On examination, the patient was fully conscious and well oriented. A wooden [bamboo] FB was seen projecting from right palpebral aperture and firmly impacted in an upward direction towards the upper part of the orbit [Figure 1]. Sight was conserved in right eye. There was no apparent distortion or injury in right globe with clear cornea, well-formed anterior chamber, normal iris details, and pupillary reaction. Left eye was within normal limit. Upon movement, dribbling of clear fluid from the projected end of the FB had raised suspicion of intracranial extension. The patient was admitted, given prophylactic Tetanus Toxoid injection, and started on prophylactic broad spectrum intravenous antibiotic Cefotaxime and intramuscular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication Diclofenac. An urgent computed tomography (CT) scan of brain and orbit was advised, which revealed a linear FB piercing the superior aspect of right orbit through superior muscle complex and right frontal sinus and into right frontal lobe of brain by fracturing roof of right orbit. There was laceration in right frontal lobe without any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or pneumocephalus. The globe integrity was preserved except mild indentation by the FB [Figure 2]. An urgent neurosurgical intervention was sought and he was shifted to neurosurgery department. But due to uncontrolled hypertension, he could not be taken up for immediate surgery. As observed by the attendant, while he was kept admitted in the intensive care unit, he himself had pulled out the FB in his agony due to pain. Soon after, he was relieved from pain to some extent. He was examined immediately and found to be stable with fully conscious and oriented. The wound was examined meticulously for any remnant of FB. The FB track was clean with no remnant of FB with no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was found. Hemostasis was achieved using absorbable gelatin sponge and the wound was closed by suturing in layers. He was kept admitted under close monitoring with bed rest and strict maintenance of precautions to reduce or eliminate increases in intracranial pressure with prophylactic medications for 72 h. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, no signs of CSF leak were found. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed after 24 h, which revealed no residual foreign body, no evidence of CSF leak inside the wound, no ICH or pneumocephalus, with the globe was normal in position and integrity. Later, he was discharged from the hospital with normal sensorium. He was on regular follow-up for 5 years since then and was found to be leading his daily life happily without any sequel of the injury [Figure 3].
Figure 1: Image showing a wooden [bamboo] FB projecting from the right palpebral aperture in an upward direction toward the upper part of the orbit

Click here to view
Figure 2: Image showing CT scan of brain and orbit images show a linear FB piercing the superior aspect of right orbit through superior muscle complex, right frontal sinus, and into right frontal lobe of the brain by fracturing the roof of the right orbit with laceration in right frontal lobe. The globe integrity was preserved except mild indentation by the FB

Click here to view
Figure 3: Follow-up image of the patient showing complete recovery without any sequel of the injury

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


In rural part of India, wooden FBs in orbit are seen in farmers and agriculture workers due to nature of their work. But, the ability of an object to penetrate bony orbit and enter intracranial cavities is based on a number of factors: energy, features of the object [tip, shape, velocity], and angle of approach.[2] In cases of nonmetallic [wooden as obvious in our case] FB, MRI scan is the investigation of choice to determine the course of FB and any associated intracranial damage. But keeping in mind the economic factors, time-consuming MRI procedure requiring patient cooperation and readily available CT scan units, a CT scan of brain and orbit was ordered. Though in postoperative period, MRI scan was performed to ensure complete removal of FB and to exclude any other sequel of the injury. The risk factors for an intracranial arterial injury are an entry wound over the frontobasal-temporal regions, a bihemispheric wound trajectory, a wound trajectory in proximity to the circle of Willis, a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or an intraventricular hemorrhage.[6] In frontal lobe lesions, patients are likely to show more aggression or violence, which may not correlate with the total size of the lesion or whether the patient had seizures.[7] In our case, unexpected aggression because of frontal lobe injury could be a possible factor behind the self-removal of the FB. Infectious complications are more frequent with CSF leaks, air sinus wounds, transventricular injuries, or with crossing the midline occur [8] and causes higher morbidity and mortality. Most of the CSF leaks following trauma generally resolve with conservative management.[9] Surgical removal of FB should be performed within 12 h from the trauma to minimize the risk of infectious complications, most commonly meningitis.[9] Cephalosporins are the most preferred antibiotics for prophylaxis.[8] In our case, the FB did not involve the middle line or major vascular trunks and not causing a SAH. Though he was from remote location and reported beyond 12 h from the injury, we have not encountered any infectious complication. As per the recommendation, we have put the patient on cephalosporin [Cefotaxime] antibiotic prophylaxis and sought urgent neurosurgery intervention. The CSF leak was also resolved spontaneously following removal of the FB.


  Conclusion Top


This case underscores the importance of having a high suspicion for the presence of an intracranial injury in the setting of impacted orbital FB. Here, we have obtained an excellent outcome without any neurosurgical intervention after self-removal of the FB and complete recovery without any sequels under observation and broad spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis. But, it is recommended to have a team approach comprising of ophthalmologist, radiologist, anesthesiologist, and neurosurgeon for managing such cases scientifically and efficiently with aggressive and timely workup as well as prompt surgical management.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Chibbaro S, Tacconi L. Orbito-cranial injuries caused by penetrating non-missile foreign bodies. Experience with eighteen patients. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2006;148:937-41.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Baranwal V K, Gupta RP, Johri S, Dutta AK, Murthy PK, Mishra A. A case of orbitocranial foreign body. Med J Armed Forces India 201472:82-4.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Agrawal A, Pratap A, Agrawal CS, Kumar A, Rupakheti S. Transorbital orbitocranial penetrating injury due to bicycle brake handle in a child. Pediatr Neurosurg 2007;43:498-500.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Kasamo S, Asakura T, Kusumoto K, Nakayama M, Kadota K, Atsuchi M, et al. Transorbital penetrating brain injury [in Japanese]. No Shinkei Geka 1992;20:433-8.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Kasper EM, Luedi MM, Zinn PO, Rubin PA, Chen C. Retained transorbital foreign body with intracranial extension after pipe bomb explosion. Surg Neurol Int 2010;1:94.  Back to cited text no. 5
[PUBMED]  [Full text]  
6.
Bodanapally UK, Saksobhavivat N, Shanmuganathan K, Aarabi B, Roy AK. Arterial injuries after penetrating brain injury in civilians: Risk factors on admission head computed tomography. J Neurosurg; 2015;122:219-26.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Grafman J, Schwab K, Warden D, Pridgen A, Brown HR, Salazar AM. Frontal lobe injuries, violence, and aggression. Neurology 199646:1231.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Kazim SF, Shamim MS, Tahir MZ, Enam SA, Waheed S. Management of penetrating brain injury. J Emerg Trauma Shock 2011;4:395-402.  Back to cited text no. 8
[PUBMED]  [Full text]  
9.
Le C, Strong EB, Luu Q. Management of anterior skull base cerebrospinal fluid leaks. J Neurol Surg. B Skull Base 2016;77:404-11.  Back to cited text no. 9
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]


This article has been cited by
1 Spontaneous resolution of a wooden foreign-body granuloma in the conjunctiva of a child
SIDDHARTH MADAN, SARITA BERI, NISHANT YADAV
The National Medical Journal of India. 2024; 36: 231
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Penetration of a Wooden Foreign Body into the Zygomaticomaxillary Bone to the Nasal Cavity: Navigation-Guided Successful Treatment
Tae Hwan Park
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2023; Publish Ah
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Reversible cerebral vasospasm and cerebral infarction secondary to meningitis following penetrating head trauma with bamboo
Kunpei Takao, Hiroyuki Matsuta, Kumi Murata, Minoru Fujiki
BMJ Case Reports. 2023; 16(8): e254676
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
4 Early versus delayed extraction of intraorbital wooden foreign body
Hisar Daniel, Yunia Irawati, Natassha Priscillia Wibowo, Carennia Paramita, Retno Sulistyo Wardani, Natasha Supartono
Trauma Case Reports. 2022; 38: 100629
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
Abstract
Case Report
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed2039    
    Printed42    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded193    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 4    

Recommend this journal