• J Emerg Med · Apr 2021

    Review Case Reports

    A Posttraumatic Dilated, Proptotic Eye Does Not Always Need a Lateral Canthotomy! A Review of Superior Orbital Fissure Syndrome for Emergency Physicians.

    • Matthew Bui, Kevin M Ryan, Isdin Oke, Crandall E Peeler, and Gabrielle A Jacquet.
    • Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
    • J Emerg Med. 2021 Apr 1; 60 (4): 520-523.

    BackgroundSuperior orbital fissure syndrome (SOFS) is a rare constellation of findings consisting of ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, a fixed dilated pupil, forehead anesthesia, and loss of the corneal reflex. This syndrome, though rare, is most often encountered in trauma with individuals sustaining a facial fracture.Case ReportWe present a case of a young woman who was diagnosed with SOFS after a fall in her house, hitting her face on a nightstand. Treatment consisted of high-dose i.v. steroids followed by a taper with close follow-up in the Ophthalmology clinic. We provide a brief review of SOFS, including treatment considerations and follow-up. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: SOFS can be easily overlooked in an individual presenting to the emergency department after facial trauma with proptosis. However, a thorough examination of the eye, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure will focus the physician on SOFS rather than the need for immediate decompression via lateral canthotomy. This report describes a traumatic cause of SOFS, the pathophysiology and treatment, and summarizes existing literature.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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