Upside-down orbitopathy: unilateral orbital dependent-tissue oedema causing total visual loss.

Abstract

The case is reported of a 24-year-old man who was involved in a road traffic accident and became trapped upside down with the right side of his face being the most dependent part of his body. Marked hemifacial tissue oedema was associated with right acute compressive orbitopathy and vascular compromise. Acute dysfunction of al orbital nerves was found on examination. Such neuropathy is usually related to the consequences of direct trauma, fractures or haemorrhage; however, computed tomography scanning demonstrated no evidence of orbital fracture or haemorrhage. Immediate anterior surgical orbital decompression was performed in the emergency room in addition to high dose intravenous steroids. Dependent orbtal tissue oedema is proposed as a mechanism of compressive orbitopathy with consequent ischaemic damage to all orbital nerves, total visual loss and complete ophthalmoparesis. Good recovery of other orbital nerves has occurred and the globe has reperfused. Despite intervention, no visual function has returned.