Traumatic dislocation of the globe into the maxillary sinus associated with extraocular muscle injury

The mechanism of complete dislocation of an intact globe into the maxillary sinus after an extensive blowout fracture has not been clearly documented.

A 68-year-old man sustained orbital wall fractures of the right orbit, resulting in dislocation of the globe into the maxillary sinus, associated with the transection of the medial and inferior rectus (MR and IR). We repaired the orbital wall fractures using Medpor barrier sheets, and repositioned the dislocated globe. And then, the distal section of the IR was sutured at its proximal end and the severed distal section of the MR was sutured at the fascial sheath and Tenon's capsule.

After repositioning, the eyeball was intact without signs of perforation, but the patient's visual acuity was impaired, exhibiting a loss of light perception, coupled with a noted pallor of the optic disc. The patient's eye movement was severely restricted, but supraduction and abduction proved possible.

This case demonstrates that the globe can be dislocated into the maxillary sinus following orbital wall fracture associated with extraocular muscle injury, and provides a clue into the mechanism underlying dislocation of the globe into the maxillary sinus.