An unusual case of globe-sparing penetrating orbital injury by a nail

Abstract

We describe a case of a 28-month-old boy who presented to our emergency department with a right orbital penetration by an iron nail. At presentation, no pain or functional loss were noted. Plain head radiographs and computed tomography were performed and demonstrated a two centimeters long nail penetrating the right orbit. The foreign body was extracted carefully in the operating room. No complications were observed upon follow-up. Rarely, orbital penetration by an iron-nail can present without functional disturbances or pain and is not necessarily accompanied by sequelae.