Extraocular Motility Limitation Research Articles

Septic Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis: Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes.

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a rare condition traditionally associated with high morbidity and mortality. More recent case series report more favorable outcomes, including full functional recovery. A comprehensive assessment of the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of visual and survival outcomes in septic CST is warranted to contemporize current understanding and help guide management. A multicentered retrospective cohort study was conducted at 2 tertiary care centers using an electronic medical record search of the term, "thrombosis of cavernous venous sinus" between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021. Inclusion criteria consisted of active infection and radiographic evidence of associated CST. Demographic and clinical data extracted included age at presentation, sex, infection type and extent, and ophthalmic examination findings at presentation-best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), presence of relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD), intraocular pressure (IOP), and extraocular motility (EOM) limitation. Management data collected consisted of type and length of antimicrobial therapy, type and length of anticoagulation administration, and surgical intervention. Primary outcomes assessed were ophthalmic examination findings at final evaluation and same-hospitalization mortality. A total of 27 patients with imaging-confirmed septic CST were identified at 2 tertiary care centers. At presentation, 2 (8.7%) patients had no light perception (NLP) vision, 8 (29.6%) patients had RAPD, 17 (73.9%) patients had EOM limitation, and 13 (54.2%) had IOP >21 mm Hg. All patients received antimicrobial therapy, with vancomycin being the most common agent. Fifteen patients (55.6%) received anticoagulation, and 21 (81.5%) patients underwent surgical intervention. Same-hospitalization mortality was 3 (11.1%). Among the 21 patients with ophthalmic data at follow-up, 3 (16.7%) had NLP vision, 5 (23.8%) had a persistent RAPD, 7 (31.8%) had persistent EOM limitation, and no patients had IOP elevated above 21 mm Hg. Patients with RAPD at presentation had significantly worse BCVA at final evaluation (logMAR BCVA 1.43 higher on average, P = 0.01) and a significantly higher mortality rate (37.5% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.01) than non-RAPD patients. Demographic features, BCVA at presentation, EOM limitation at presentation, elevated IOP at presentation, and comorbid orbital cellulitis were not associated with worse visual or mortality outcomes. Septic CST may result in permanent ophthalmic functional deficit in almost one-third of cases and mortality in approximately 11% of patients under contemporary management. New RAPD at presentation may indicate higher risk of poor visual and survival outcomes.

Identifying the Risk Factors for Orbital Complications in Isolated Sphenoid Rhinosinusitis.

Background and Objectives: Isolated sphenoid rhinosinusitis may have devastating consequences such as orbital complications due to its anatomical contiguity with vital structures. This study aimed to identify patients with isolated sphenoid inflammatory diseases at high risk for developing orbital complications and requiring aggressive management through investigation of the clinical and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of patients with isolated sphenoid rhinosinusitis. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery between 2005 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with isolated sphenoid rhinosinusitis were identified based on a manual review of the clinical and histopathological findings. Participants' clinical and CT features were reviewed. Results: Among the 118 patients with isolated sphenoid rhinosinusitis, 15 (12.7%) developed orbital complications, including diplopia, extraocular motility limitation, ptosis, and visual impairment. Headaches and facial pain occurred significantly more frequently in patients with orbital complications than in those without orbital complications (p < 0.001). Patients with diabetes mellitus or malignant neoplasms were more likely to develop orbital complications than those without these comorbidities (p < 0.05). Bony dehiscence on CT images was significantly more common in patients with orbital complications than in those without. In the regression analysis, diabetes mellitus (OR, 4.62), malignant neoplasm (OR, 4.32), and bony dehiscence (OR, 4.87) were significant predictors of orbital complications (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Headaches and facial pain are the most common symptoms of isolated sphenoid rhinosinusitis. Orbital complications of isolated sphenoid rhinosinusitis are more common in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus or malignancy or in those with bony dehiscence on CT images.

Orbital abscess with white eye in patients treated with oral antibiotics for orbital cellulitis

ABSTRACT Purpose To report a case series of seven patients with late presentation of orbital/subperiosteal abscess following oral treatment of orbital cellulitis. Methods A retrospective case series of all patients presented with orbital abscess following oral treatment of orbital cellulitis from two tertiary-care eye centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted. Demographic profiles, risk factors, initial clinical presentation, management regimens, and final outcome were analysed. Results Patients presented mainly with proptosis and limitation of extraocular motility without external ophthalmic inflammatory signs. Most patients needed surgical evacuation despite the appropriate initiation of intravenous antibiotics following presentation to our hospitals. Conclusion Treating orbital cellulitis with oral antibiotics may lead to delayed presentation of orbital abscess without external ophthalmic inflammatory signs.

Clinical Results According to Inferior Oblique Manipulation in Patients with Inferomedial Blowout Fracture Involving the Orbital Strut.

Detachment of the inferior oblique muscle may be necessary under certain circumstances to repair a large inferomedial orbital fracture involving the orbital strut. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent surgeries with and without inferior oblique muscle reattachment after its detachment to repair the orbital wall fractures. Forty patients who underwent repair of combined floor and medial orbital wall fracture involving the orbital strut at a single tertiary institution between January 2014 and December 2020 were reviewed. Groups 1 and 2 comprised 20 patients each, who underwent surgery with inferior oblique muscle detachment without and with reattachment, respectively, and were followed up for at least 6 months postoperatively. Enophthalmos, Goldmann diplopia test, alignment test, ocular motility test, and orbital inferomedial angle ratio were the outcome measures. Statistically significant improvement was observed in ocular motility, diplopia, and enophthalmos postoperatively at the 1- and 6-month follow-up (p < 0.01). The mean postoperative inferomedial angle ratio (102.28 ± 10.62%) was improved significantly compared with the preoperative inferomedial angle ratio (115.61 ± 4.38%) (p = 0.004) in all patients. After surgery, inferior oblique muscle underaction was observed in seven and six patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively, which was associated with preoperative extraocular movement limitation and strabismus. Two patients showed diplopia in both groups at the last follow-up; they had inferior oblique muscle underaction but no enophthalmos. Orbital fracture repair with or without inferior oblique muscle reattachment was clinically effective and safe; however, patients with preoperative strabismus and extraocular motility limitation should be informed of the increased risk of postoperative complications.

Clinical correlations of extraocular motility limitation pattern in orbital fracture cases: a retrospective cohort study in a level 1 trauma centre

ABSTRACT Purpose Ocular pathology (OP) following orbital fracture can vary vastly in complexity and severity. Extra-ocular motility (EOM) limitations are frequently present in orbital trauma cases, with patterns of duction limitations being symmetrical or asymmetrical. The aim of this study was to identify if there was any association between increased OP following orbital fracture cases based on the pattern of EOM deficits. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with fractured orbits presenting with or without EOM limitations to a level 1 trauma center between August 2015 to January 2018. All pertinent elements of the ophthalmic examination were recorded. Outcome measures: Chi-square analyses assessed for association between symmetrical or asymmetrical EOM limitation and OP. Odds ratios were calculated with 95% confidence interval. Results 278 orbits with wall fractures were included in this study. A significant correlation between EOM limitation and increased OP following orbital trauma was found (p = 0.000081). Cases with symmetrical and asymmetrical EOM limitation were 7.9 (95%CI: 2.3–27.2) and 5.22 (95%CI: 1.9–13.9) times more likely to have OP than cases with no EOM limitation, respectively. With extraocular muscle entrapment excluded, cases with symmetrical limitations had a significantly higher incidence of OP than cases with asymmetrical limitations (p = 0.0161). Conclusions OP is frequently observed in cases of orbital fracture. While any EOM limitations should prompt the clinicians to anticipate OP, intra-ocular injury may be more likely in cases of symmetrical EOM limitation. Future prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the relationship between EOM symmetricity and OP following orbital trauma.

Orbital Inflammation Following COVID-19 Vaccination.

Three patients presented with periorbital swelling, pain with extraocular movements, and binocular diplopia 1–4 days after receiving an mRNA Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccine (BNT162b2, Pfizer/BioNTech; mRNA-1273, Moderna). All patients had a normal afferent function, unilateral limitation of extraocular motility, proptosis, and periorbital inflammation. Neuroimaging of the orbits with contrast revealed inflammation and enlargement of extraocular muscles in 2 cases and the lacrimal gland in 1 case. In all 3 cases, an extensive infectious and inflammatory laboratory work-up was unremarkable and signs and symptoms of orbital inflammation rapidly improved to complete resolution after treatment with high-dose oral prednisone. This is the first reported series of orbital inflammation occurring shortly after administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Clinicians may consider an inflammatory postvaccine etiology as an alternative to presumed idiopathic diagnosis in such cases.

Resolution of Vertical Gaze Following a Delayed Presentation of Orbital Floor Fracture With Inferior Rectus Entrapment: The Contributions of Charles E. Iliff and Joseph S. Gruss in Orbital Surgery.

Orbital floor fractures occur commonly as a result of blunt trauma to the face and periorbital region. Orbital floor fractures with a "trapdoor" component allow both herniation and incarceration of contents through a bone defect into the maxillary sinus as the bone rebounds faster than the soft tissue, trapping muscle, fat, and fascia in the fracture site. In children, the fractured floor, which is often hinged on one side, tends to return toward its original anatomical position due to the incomplete nature of the fracture and elasticity of the bone. The entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle itself is considered a true surgical emergency-prolonged entrapment frequently leads to muscle ischemia and necrosis leading to permanent limitation of extraocular motility and difficult to correct diplopia. For this reason, prompt surgical intervention is recommended by most surgeons. In adults, true entrapment of the muscle itself is not as common because the orbital floor is not as elastic and fractures are more complete. We present an adult patient with an isolated orbital floor fracture with clinical and radiologic evidence of true entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle itself. Despite the delayed surgical repair (4 days after the injury), the patient's inferior rectus muscle function returned to near normal with mild upward gaze diplopia. Inferior rectus entrapment in adults may more likely be associated with immobilization of the muscle without total vascular compression/incarceration significant enough to lead to complete ischemic necrosis.

Orbital and periorbital dermoid cysts: Comparison of clinical features and management outcomes in children and adults.

To compare differences in clinical presentation and management outcomes of orbital and periorbital dermoid cysts in children and adults. A retrospective interventional comparative consecutive case series. 203 patients in (148 children [Age ⩽18 years] and 55 adults [Age >18 years]), who underwent excision biopsy for orbital/periorbital dermoid cyst were included. Outcome measures included the differences in demography, clinical presentations, radiological features, surgical outcomes and histopathology of cysts between children and adults with dermoid cysts. The mean age noted at excision was 15 years in this cohort of 148 children and 55 adults. Commonest clinical finding observed was a subcutaneous painless mass (94%) and external angular dermoids were commonest in both groups 1 and 2 (51% and 56%). Diminution of vision (p = 0.007), proptosis (p = 0.008), extraocular motility limitation (p = 0.001), strabismus (p = 0.003) and relative afferent pupillary defect (p = 0.02) were significantly more in adults. Orbital involvement and dumbbell dermoids were not significantly different between children and adults. Radiologically, bony fossa formation (p = 0.03), temporal fossa extension (p = 0.04), full thickness bony defect (p = 0.03) and intraosseous presentation (p = 0.005) were significantly more in adults. Comparison of proportion of lesions having intra-operative rupture of dermoid cyst (p = 0.009) and evidence of inflammation on histopathology (p = 0.01) were significantly more in adults. However, recurrence rates were not different between children and adults. Dermoid cysts are commoner in children, but can also present in adulthood. Secondary visual, orbital, radiologic changes and intra-operative rupture of dermoid cyst are more common in adults compared to children.

Elevated Intraocular Pressure due to Arteriovenous Fistula between External Carotid Artery and Facial Vein.

Aqueous outflow via the conventional outflow pathway is dependent on the pressure gradient between intraocular pressure (IOP) and episcleral venous pressure (EVP). Elevated IOP resulting from increased EVP is a well-known complication of arteriovenous fistulas, which are usually between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. Arteriovenous malformations usually occur spontaneously, after a trauma or from iatrogenic causes, and they manifest with findings of chemosis, dilatation of the conjunctival vessels, exophthalmos, and extraocular motility limitation. In this study, we present a case of elevated IOP due to facial arteriovenous malformations following a functional neck dissection surgery that caused intraocular pressure elevation.

Orbital hemangiopericytoma in an Asian population

Hemangiopericytoma is a very rare orbital tumor. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and histopathological features of six cases of orbital hemangiopericytoma in an Asian population. Clinical and histopathological features were reviewed in six patients who were histopathologically confirmed as having primary orbital hemangiopericytoma in National Taiwan University Hospital between May 2001 and December 2010. Among the six cases who were diagnosed as having primary orbital hemangiopericytoma, all lesions were reported as vascular tumors and featured branching "staghorn appearance" vessels. All patients, including one male and five females, presented with progressive proptosis and some associated symptoms such as extraocular motility limitation with diplopia, displacement of the globe, afferent pupillary defect, congested vessels of conjunctiva, or decreased visual acuity. On computed tomography, the orbital tumors tended to manifest as circumscribed masses with homogeneous medium-to-high enhancement with contrast studies. All six patients received surgical treatments, and four of them had additional radiotherapy. Three patients had recurrence after surgeries, and one of them had multiple metastases to lung and liver. All patients were still alive after a follow-up period of 5-10 years. Orbital hemangiopericytoma has malignant potential, which may lead to local recurrence and/or metastasis. Histopathological findings alone are insufficient to predict the behavior of this tumor. Therefore, both clinical and histopathological findings are important to evaluate the treatment outcomes. Total excision accompanied with radiotherapy is suggested and long-term follow-up is required.

Inflammatory Disorders of the Orbit in Childhood: A Case Series

To describe a series of cases of orbital inflammatory disorders in children. Retrospective case series. The medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with orbital inflammation between September 1, 2002, and December 31, 2008, at Texas Children's Hospital were reviewed. Data collected included age at presentation, final diagnosis, treatment, workup and evaluation, need for biopsy and biopsy results, and involvement of lacrimal gland and muscles. Twelve cases were identified. Six cases were males and 6 were females with age at presentation ranging from 1.3 to 16.2 years (mean, 11.9 years). The most common presentation was lacrimal gland enlargement, which was bilateral in 3 cases. Other common presenting signs were proptosis, extraocular motility limitation, and pain on eye movement. Half of our patients had systemic complaints at presentation, the most common of which was fever. Four patients were diagnosed as having a systemic cause and 2 of these patients had systemic symptoms. Idiopathic orbital inflammatory conditions in children are uncommon, but can be associated with systemic conditions. Patients typically have lacrimal gland involvement, pain with eye movement, proptosis, and motility deficits at presentation. Bilateral cases may have a higher incidence of systemic disease.

Breast Carcinoma Metastatic to the Orbit: An Unusually Late Presentation

An 83-year-old woman, diagnosed with breast carcinoma 28 years earlier, presented with left hyperglobus and limitation of extraocular motility. CT and MRI showed bilateral nodular thickening of extraocular muscles. Left orbital biopsy disclosed metastatic breast carcinoma. Subsequent positron-emission tomography/CT revealed diffuse metastatic disease. To the authors' knowledge, this case represents the longest reported interval from the diagnosis of primary breast cancer to the presentation of orbital metastasis.

Pediatric orbital floor fracture: Direct extraocular muscle involvement

Objective To study the clinical presentation, operative findings, and postoperative results of a surgical series of isolated orbital floor fractures in children. Design Noncomparative, retrospective, consecutive case series. Participants Thirty-four patients (34 orbits) less than 18 years of age with isolated orbital floor fractures. Indications for surgery were severe limitation of extraocular ductions, 22 of 34; enophthalmos, 8 of 34: or both, 4 of 34. Intervention Surgical repair. Main outcome measures Cause of fracture, symptoms, clinical signs, radiographic data, operative findings, postoperative results, and complications. Results Children older than 12 years of age were more likely to sustain an orbital floor fracture as a result of interpersonal violence than were children less than 12 years of age ( P = 0.020). Sixty-two percent of patients (21 of 34) exhibited pain with eye movements and/or nausea and vomiting. Most had a trapdoor type fracture (21 of 34). The inferior rectus muscle was entrapped in the orbital floor fracture in 69% (18 of 26) of patients with a severe limitation of ocular ductions. Preoperative nausea and vomiting were immediately relieved after surgery. The median time for improvement of preoperative duction deficits and diplopia was 4 days for patients receiving surgery within 7 days and 10.5 days for those undergoing surgery after 14 days ( P = 0.030). Resolution of duction deficits or diplopia was not dependent on time of surgery if performed within 1 month of injury. Loss of vision, worsening of motility, or implant complications did not occur. Conclusions Pediatric patients with isolated orbital floor fractures who had pain, nausea, vomiting, and severe limitation of extraocular motility often have direct entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle into the fracture site. Surgical repair rapidly relieved preoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting. For patients with severe limitation of ductions, early surgical repair within 7 days of injury resulted in more rapid improvement of ductions and diplopia than surgery performed later.

Orbital infections

Orbital infections account for the majority of primary intraorbital disease processes. Sinusitis is the most common etiology. Five stages of cellulitis secondary to sinusitis have been described. Systemic conditions which predispose to orbital infection include diabetes, septicemia, malignancy, and immunosuppression. Clinical signs and symptoms include superficial inflammatory changes, as well as proptosis, limitation of extraocular motility, and visual loss. Causative agents are most commonly bacteria, with fungus, viruses, and parasites seen less frequently. Imaging is performed by CT and/or MRI which are complementary in certain cases. Differential diagnosis of imaging abnormalities includes inflammatory and granulomatous diseases, as well as neoplasm.

Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Orbit and Ethmoid Sinus

Aneurysmal bone cysts are uncommon nonneoplastic lesions that occur most frequently in long bones, vertebrae, and the pelvis. Fewer than 1% of aneurysmal bone cysts involve the skull and only 17 cases have been reported with orbital involvement. Of these, 11 involved the orbital roof and only two involved the medial orbit. 1 We present a case of an aneurysmal bone cyst involving the medial orbital wall in an 11-month-old girl. Report of a Case. —An 11-month-old girl presented with a 2-week history of rapidly progressive proptosis of the right eye, mild right facial swelling, right epistaxis, and difficulty breathing through the right nostril. There was no history of trauma. She had a firm, palpable mass in the right medial canthus and mild limitation of extraocular motility on the right side. The results of pupillary and funduscopic examinations were normal. There was a fleshy mass in the right nasal cavity.