Orbital compartment syndrome in a burn patient without aggressive fluid resuscitation

Orbital compartment syndrome may rarely occur in the setting of burns where therapy includes aggressive fluid resuscitation.

We report a case of bilateral orbital compartment syndrome in a 13-year-old male, with superficial facial burns secondary to hydrobromic acid, who did not receive aggressive fluid resuscitation. The patient was treated successfully with bilateral lateral canthotomy and cantholysis.

Facial burns may lead to orbital compartment syndrome without aggressive fluid resuscitation, likely due to excessive leakage of fluid and protein into the orbit combined with an inflammatory reaction.