Traumatic "pseudoprolapse" of orbital tissues into the maxillary antrum: a diagnostic pitfall

Orbital trauma may result in what we term "pseudoprolapse" of orbital tissues: a subperiosteal, submucosal, or intramucosal hemorrhage which creates a balloon-like elevation of periosteum or maxillary sinus mucosa or both associated with a nondisplaced fracture or in some cases no fracture of the orbital floor. This occasionally causes an erroneous radiographic diagnosis indicating a blowout fracture with prolapse of orbital tissues, resulting in unnecessary surgery.