[Blindness following reduction of a malar fracture]

Blindness is the most serious injury to the eye following a midfacial fracture. The onset of blindness complicating the midfacial fracture may be immediate (with the trauma), delayed (hours to days), or postoperative. The incidence of postoperative blindness lies between 0.3 and 8.3%. There are multiple mechanisms responsible for blindness but the most common reason with about 66% is probably increased intraorbital pressure attributable to intraorbital hemorrhage. The management of surgical decompression of the orbit for acute blindness is essential when treatment of a midfacial fracture is intended. Acute orbital compartment syndrome can effectively be relieved by lateral canthotomy and cantholysis and administration of high doses of corticosteroids. Further possibilities of surgical decompression of the orbit are discussed in this case report with postoperative irreversible blindness after reduction of a malar fracture and rapidly performed surgical decompression.