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Optic Nerve Avulsion After Finger-Poke Injury
Tapan P Patel1, Erica L Archer, Jonathan D Trobe
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (TPP, ELA, JDT), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Department of Neurology (JDT), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
A finger-poke eye injury caused optic nerve avulsion. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography revealed a plunging cup, a new sign of this traumatic optic neuropathy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Trauma Research
Background:
- Optic nerve avulsion is a severe form of traumatic optic neuropathy.
- It results from forceful rotation at the optic nerve-globe junction.
Observation:
- A case of optic nerve avulsion following a direct finger-poke eye injury is presented.
- The injury involved penetration into the nasal orbit.
Findings:
- Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revealed a characteristic "plunging cup".
- This finding is indicative of optic nerve avulsion and has not been previously described.
Implications:
- The "plunging cup" on SD-OCT may serve as a novel diagnostic marker for traumatic optic nerve avulsion.
- This case highlights the potential for severe ocular and neurological damage from seemingly minor penetrating injuries.
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