Ophthalmoplegia with skin necrosis after a hyaluronic acid filler injection

"Filler-Associated Acute Stroke Syndrome": Classification, Predictive Modelling of Hyaluronidase Efficacy, and Updated Case Review on Neurological and Visual Complications

INTRODUCTION

The rising use of soft tissue fillers for aesthetic procedures has seen an increase in complications, including vascular occlusions and neurological symptoms that resemble stroke. This study synthesizes information on central nervous system (CNS) complications post-filler injections and evaluates the effectiveness of hyaluronidase (HYAL) treatment.

METHODS

A thorough search of multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, focused on publications from January 2014 to January 2024. Criteria for inclusion covered reviews and case reports that documented CNS complications related to soft tissue fillers. Advanced statistical and computational techniques, including logistic regression, machine learning, and Bayesian analysis, were utilized to dissect the factors influencing therapeutic outcomes.

RESULTS

The analysis integrated findings from 20 reviews and systematic analyses, with 379 cases reported since 2018. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was the most commonly used filler, particularly in nasal region injections. The average age of patients was 38, with a notable increase in case reports in 2020. Initial presentation data revealed that 60.9% of patients experienced no light perception, while ptosis and ophthalmoplegia were present in 54.3 and 42.7% of cases, respectively. The statistical and machine learning analyses did not establish a significant linkage between the HYAL dosage and patient recovery; however, the injection site emerged as a critical determinant.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that HYAL treatment, while vital for managing complications, varies in effectiveness based on the injection site and the timing of administration. The non-Newtonian characteristics of HA fillers may also affect the incidence of complications. The findings advocate for tailored treatment strategies incorporating individual patient variables, emphasizing prompt and precise intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of soft tissue fillers.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Management of Late Complications After Facial Filling

The aim of the present study is to report a clinical case of a patient diagnosed with a late adverse reaction to the injection of filler material - persistent and intermittent delayed swelling (PIDS) - in which photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) with low-power laser was used for edema reduction. This is an observational, descriptive, and retrospective work of a case report. The female patient, aged 73 years old, had undergone dermal filler six years before and complained of increased volume in the face region (glabellar region, labiomental sulcus, and nasolabial folds) and was submitted to ultrasound and anatomopathological analysis. PBMT using a low-power laser (660 nm and 808 nm, simultaneous irradiation, in contact, 2 J/point, 100 mW) proved to be effective for the non-invasive approach of late adverse reaction to dermal filler, such as PIDS, a common complication related to the use of dermal fillers.

Administration Method and Potential Efficacy of Hyaluronidase for Hyaluronic Acid Filler-Related Vision Loss: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

With the global increase in the use of injectable fillers, more cases with serious adverse events such vision loss are being reported. This article aims to review the cases of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler-related vision loss and to discuss the potential efficacy of hyaluronidase (HYASE) treatment via different given methods.

METHODS

A total of 29 articles presenting 144 cases of HA filler-related vision loss were included in this study.

RESULTS

Most cases of HA filler-related vision impairment were reported from China, followed by Korea. The majority of cases were seen in women. The nose, forehead and glabella were the most commonly injection sites. All cases had vision impairment and nearly all cases were unilateral with immediate onset of visual signs and symptoms. Ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO) and central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) were the two most commonly involved arterial obstruction patterns featured with a very poor prognosis followed by branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), the most favorable involved arterial pattern for a better prognosis. HYASE given subcutaneously and intra-arterially helped with visual recovery to different degrees, while retrobulbar HYASE seemed to be less helpful.

CONCLUSION

Complications after HA-based filler injection are extremely rare but can cause disastrous visual impairment. HYASE given subcutaneously and intra-arterially helped with visual recovery to different extents, and the efficacy might be reinforced when performed together, while retrobulbar HYASE seemed to be less helpful. However, to accurately access the efficacy of HYASE via different administration methods, further randomized controlled trials are needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Dizziness and Pain After Temporal Augmentation With Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a commonly used soft tissue filler. However, it has been associated with numerous complications including skin necrosis, loss of vision, and cerebral infarction. In this article, the authors have reported the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented with significant dizziness and pain in the temporal and intrahairline region after undergoing hyaluronic acid augmentation of the temple and inner temporal hairline regions. Subsequently, the patient received 4 doses of a hyaluronidase injection to dissolve the emboli. She demonstrated improvement in clinical symptoms after emboli dissolution. During the 10-month posttreatment follow-up, the patient experienced gradual relief from pain and dizziness. The use of hyaluronic acid fillers should be limited in the intrahairline region as the resulting complications can be difficult to manage.

Clinical Manifestations and Prognosis of Embolism Caused by Filler Injection in Different Facial Regions

Background

Embolism is a serious complication after facial filling, with a usually poor prognosis of the symptoms after embolism. The authors systematically reviewed reported cases of facial vascular embolism, explored the relationship between the location and material used for facial filling and occurrence of vascular embolism, and assessed the prognosis of complications after vascular embolism.

Methods

This study provides a systematic review of published cases of vascular embolism after facial filling. A summary of the filling materials and filling sites for each case, the adverse reactions and embolized blood vessels, a recording of the time when each patient experienced adverse reactions and started treatment, and a presentation of their prognosis are provided.

Results

The frontal, eyebrow, and nose are common filling sites causing facial embolism. The main clinical manifestations after embolism were visual impairment, skin necrosis, and ptosis. The prognosis of visual impairment after embolization was poor, whereas skin necrosis and ptosis generally improved after treatment.

Conclusions

This article aimed to review the clinical manifestations, therapies, and prognosis of embolism after facial filling. A better understanding of these complications can help clinicians to detect the occurrence of complications as early as possible and give patients timely treatment.

Ophthalmic Complications of Periorbital and Facial Aesthetic Procedures: A Literature Review

The emergence and popularity of cosmetic facial procedures may lead to significant ophthalmic complications such as ocular motility dysfunction and visual disability. Here, we present a scoping review to identify common ophthalmic complications in some facial plastic surgeries and cosmetic injections, and to develop clinical approaches for prophylaxis and management in terms of direct attention and awareness of non-ophthalmologists toward such scenarios and appropriate intervention. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The following keywords were used to search PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: "facial laser", "facial fillers", "facial injections", "hyaluronic acid", "local facial injections of botulinum toxin", "rhinoplasty", "blepharoplasty blindness", "ophthalmoplegia", "diplopia", "ptosis", "ophthalmic artery occlusion", "posterior ciliary artery occlusion", and "ocular ischemic syndrome". A total of 37 articles published between 1989 and 2021 were included, of which 21 were case reports. The most common ophthalmic complication was vision loss (0.0008%). The risk of ophthalmic complications including ocular pain, sudden unilateral or bilateral vision loss, flashes of light, ptosis, and ophthalmoplegia increase with injection in common anatomical regions like the glabella, nose, and supraorbital and nasolabial folds. The incidence of adverse events ranges from 5% to 18% in rhinoplasty. The most common complications after blepharoplasty were dry eye syndrome and diplopia, caused by eyelid ptosis. Eyelid, cornea, lens, and retina injuries are ophthalmic complications that occur after facial laser treatment. Ophthalmic complications after non-ophthalmic and cosmetic procedures are becoming increasingly common. The cumulative reported cases of ophthalmic complications after hyaluronic acid filler injection from 2016 to 2020 showed different types of adverse events, with the most common being decreased visual acuity, unilateral vision loss, and ptosis, with varying outcomes of each complication ranging from partial resolution to complete recovery. These complications must be recognized early, and prompt treatment must be established.

Recovery of Acute Ophthalmoplegia after Hyaluronic Acid Filler Injections to the Temples: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Soft tissue filler injection is the second most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. Despite the safety of fillers, as use has grown, so has the number of patients affected by adverse events. Ophthalmoplegia following cosmetic filler injection is a rare complication, mostly occurring after injection to the glabella, nasolabial fold, periorbital, and lateral nasal site. In all cases where ophthalmoplegia has been reported following fillers, patients have simultaneously experienced vision loss and other ocular symptoms. We report a case of isolated acute ophthalmoplegia following hyaluronic acid injection solely in the temple region. A 40-year-old woman, 3 hours after the procedure, presented to our hospital with left eye ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, and hypotropia. Treatment started with hyaluronidase, steroids, and anticoagulants. After 4 weeks, left eye ophthalmoplegia remained unchanged, and through a 10-week follow-up, all left ocular movements improved, and only mild hypotropia and ptosis persisted. This case report shows that ophthalmoplegia may also happen with temple region filler injections. We also review available prevention techniques and treatments to avoid such complications when performing soft tissue fillers for gaunt appearance correction.

Research hotspots and trends of oculomotor nerve palsy from 2001 to 2021 based on web of science: A bibliometric analysis

Background

Oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) is a clinically occurring neurological disorder. Due to the complex anatomy and long travel distances of the oculomotor nerve, the causes of ONP vary and manifest in various ways. With continued interest in this area, it has become necessary to conduct a bibliometric study in ONP. This work aims to synthesize and visually identify current research themes and future trends in ONP through a literature-based analysis.

Method

Articles and reviews on ONP published from 2002 to 2021 were derived from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. We generated visual images and performed quantitative and qualitative analysis through an online bibliometric tool, Citespace and VOSviewer software.

Results

A total of 1,205 published articles were included in this analysis. The annual number of this area's publications is showing an overall upward trend, with the number of citations increasing every year, reaching 2,698 by 2021. The United States (367) and Japan (116) dominated the list with the most numerous articles published. The University of California Los Angeles in the USA is the institution that published the highest number of articles (47). Engle EC (23) and the JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY (46) are the most influential authors and journals in this field. The co-occurrence network analysis divided the keywords into five main research themes, which mainly include clinical manifestations of ONP, aneurysms, cerebral neurological symptoms, diseases with ONP as a complication, and other neurological disorders.

Conclusion

This study is the first comprehensive and systematic bibliometric analysis of the current state of global ONP research over the past 20 years. We organized current hotspots and expected trends and provided key information for exploring potential research frontiers in ONP.

Use of the high-dose pulsed hyaluronidase protocol in the management of impending skin necrosis associated with hyaluronic acid fillers: a systematic review

Impending skin necrosis resulting from inadvertent intravascular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers can lead to tissue loss and significant scarring. In recent years, management trends have shifted from multimodal approaches to the sole use of high doses of hyaluronidase. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of the high-dose pulsed hyaluronidase management protocol in preventing skin necrosis and possible subsequent scarring. An online search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and Embase yielded 3039 articles. A total of 72 studies reporting 186 cases were found to be eligible for inclusion. The selection and evaluation process was done according to the PRISMA criteria. Included studies were assessed using the JBI and STROBE critical appraisal tools. The analysis of treatment outcomes was done according to the timing of treatment initiation and the type of intervention used. This review found that an immediate intervention using the high-dose pulsed hyaluronidase management protocol provided predictable and satisfactory outcomes. Initiating the protocol within 24 h of filler injection halted the progression of necrosis and prevented permanent sequelae. The conclusions are limited by the lack of a high level of evidence, since the only available sources of data are case reports and case series.

Ocular Complications Post-Cosmetic Periocular Hyaluronic Acid Injections: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

With the global rise in the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers as a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, significant adverse effects such as vascular compromise and blindness have become common. Hence, we present the first systematic review aimed to investigate ocular complications secondary to a facial HA injection and to understand the presentation, cause, management, and outcome of these complications.

METHODS

The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to report this review. A systematic search was performed in July 2021 for published literature using the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases. The following terms were used: facial fillers, facial injections, hyaluronic acid, blindness, ophthalmoplegia, diplopia, ptosis, ophthalmic artery occlusion, posterior ciliary artery occlusion, and ocular ischemic syndrome.

RESULTS

A total of 2496 publications were searched, and 34 articles published between January 2000 and July 2021 were included. Twenty-seven case reports and seven case series were evaluated. The nose was the most common site of injection (n = 25; 40.67%). Ocular pain was the most common initial symptom of ocular complications (n = 13, 22.41 %). The most common complication was vision loss (n = 17, 50%). The majority of patients received hyaluronidase, aspirin, and steroids. Regarding the outcome, 15 (45.45%) of the published studies showed no improvement in complications even after management.

CONCLUSION

HA is gaining popularity in cosmetic applications. Post-HA ocular complications nearly always have an immediate onset. Proper knowledge of potential adverse events is crucial for clinicians to attempt to decrease complications and improve outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.