The Lucky Ones: A Report of Two Cases of Intraorbital Foreign Bodies

Could Radiographs Be More Helpful in the Removal of an Intraorbital Foreign Body Than a Surgical Navigation System? A Neurosurgical Case Report

Intraorbital foreign body (IOFB) is a vision-threatening condition that requires careful management. IOFB can manifest clinically from asymptomatic up to severe inflammation and blindness. Diagnosis and treatment are determined by the nature of the IOFB. The type, location, and complications related to the IOFB are taken into consideration when planning the surgery. Here, we report the case of a male in his 20s who was admitted to our clinic with a computed tomography (CT) scan which verified the presence of an IOFB. The patient underwent surgery and the IOFB was removed. Using a surgical navigation system (SNS), it was difficult to pinpoint the IOFB precisely during surgery. We took radiographs with a C-arm to improve our orientation and locate the IOFB. The patient recovered uneventfully, and no issues were noticed one month following surgery. This case report highlights the selection of treatment methods and demonstrates when radiographs can be more helpful than an SNS in the removal of the IOFB.

Considerations for a Retained Foreign Body in the Posterior Orbital Apex

Orbital foreign bodies must be approached with complex considerations involving their precise location and composition in order to adequately guide management. Physicians must carefully weigh the advantages and risks of surgical and medical intervention compared to conservative management. We present a case of a male patient with penetrating trauma to the eye that resulted in open globe injury and orbital foreign body, presumed metallic, at the posterior orbital apex near the optic nerve. As such, despite the uncertainty of the exact composition of the object, the medical team and patient agreed to conservative management given its high-risk anatomical location.