Systemic Allergic Response in the Setting of a Metallic Intraorbital Foreign Body With Intraoperative Magnet-Assisted...

A 12-year-old boy with a past medical history of nickel allergy was referred to our service after sustaining an air rifle injury with a retained BB in his left inferior orbit. On examination, he had a palpable orbital mass and systemic urticaria. Plain films demonstrated a spherical metallic foreign body adjacent to the left inferior orbital rim. Given his worsening systemic reaction despite oral antihistamine therapy, decision was made to remove the foreign body. In the operating room, the Allergan Magna Finder-a prepackaged, sterile device normally used for retrieval of a port used in tissue expansion surgery-was placed over the inferior conjunctiva of the lower eyelid. With the magnet holding gentle anterior traction on the foreign body, it was easily dissected and removed. The patient tolerated the procedure well, and had rapid resolution of his systemic allergic response following removal of the BB.