Blindness resulting from orbital cellulitis following rhinoplasty
Kyung Mook Lee1, Sang Chul Han, Samuel Y M Ho
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery : JPRAS
|February 14, 2013
Summary
Orbital cellulitis, a rare complication after cosmetic surgery, led to vision loss in a patient following rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. Prompt intervention was insufficient to prevent permanent blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Plastic Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ophthalmic complications are infrequent after non-ophthalmic surgical procedures.
- This case highlights a severe complication following combined augmentation rhinoplasty and breast augmentation.
Observation:
- A 24-year-old female presented with orbital cellulitis in the left eye post-surgery.
- Symptoms included pain, swelling, erythema, and rapid vision loss.
- Intravenous antibiotics failed to control the infection's progression.
Findings:
- The patient underwent left-orbital evisceration on the sixth postoperative day to prevent systemic spread.
- Despite aggressive treatment, permanent unilateral blindness resulted.
Implications:
- Orbital cellulitis is an exceptionally rare but devastating complication in aesthetic surgery.
- Emphasizes the need for meticulous aseptic technique and vigilant postoperative monitoring for orbital infections, especially in prolonged procedures like rhinoplasty combined with other surgeries.
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