Isolated superior rectus abscess following traumatic blunt injury to the eye

Abstract

Orbital abscess following trivial blunt trauma to the eye are uncommon. Few cases are known and reported in the literature. The clinical presentation can be myriad varying from localized presentation to children with marked systemic toxicity. Visual loss is the most dreaded complication and a rapid deterioration in vision may occur if the treatment is delayed. Radiological investigations usually offer a prompt diagnosis but considerable degree of confusion may occur, especially in those cases that lack systemic manifestations of infective pathology. Aggressive medical and surgical treatment is mandatory for a favorable outcome in these cases. We report the case of a child who presented to us with orbital abscess of the left eye following a trivial blunt trauma. No other infective focus was identified. Subsequent imaging revealed abscess of the superior rectus muscle. The child improved following intravenous antibiotics and ultrasonography guided aspiration of the abscess. The clinical and radiological presentation of such cases, management and outcome and a brief review of literature are discussed.

Keywords

Orbital abscess - superior rectus - blunt trauma - non-axial proptosis - visual loss

Publication History

Received: 25 July 2007

Accepted: 12 March 2008

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)