Unusual Penetrating Orbital and Globe Injury With a Veterinary Needle

Cureus. 2023 Oct 31;15(10):e48076. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48076. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

We present a rare case of a penetrating injury to the globe and orbit by a veterinary needle. The patient underwent globe exploration and retinal detachment repair under general anesthesia after receiving medical treatment for orbital cellulitis. The case was managed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a pediatric ophthalmologist, an oculoplastic surgeon, and a retina surgeon. The orbital cellulitis resolved gradually, after which the site of globe penetration was found to be self-sealed, and the retinal detachment was repaired. B-scan ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to assess the extent of the injury and evaluate the integrity of the globe. Exploration of presumed Self-sealing globe wounds by a needle should be deferred until the treatment of life-threatening complications like orbital cellulitis and optic nerve infiltration is complete. Prompt judicious care was necessary in this case. It is crucial to implement preventive measures to address the risks involved in children manipulating dangerous objects to avoid preventable accidents and mitigate the potential visual outcomes that may arise as a result.

Keywords: eye emergency; needle type; open globe injury; orbital complications; retina surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports