Intraorbital hemorrhage following a secondary intervention at integrated zygomatic implants: A case report

Zygomatic implant placement can be the best option for restoring masticatory function of an extremely atrophic upper jaw, but the procedure is more invasive than conventional implant placement and can be associated with complications.

We report a complication that occurred during a secondary corrective surgical procedure four years after zygomatic implant placement. The patient was a 54-year-old female who had been edentulous for 25 years. Four zygomatic implants were placed. Subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation was successful. Four years later, the patient complained of discomfort. It was found that the tips of the implants on the right side were subcutaneously palpable and surrounded by granulomatous tissue. Intraoral surgery was performed to remove the protruding tips of the two implants. Post-operatively, the patient developed severe orbital pain on the right side with proptosis and diffuse swelling of the eyelids. Emergency surgery was performed to drain the intraorbital hemorrhage. The patient healed uneventfully without loss of visual acuity.

Scarce prior reports describe trauma to the orbit during zygomatic implant surgery, mostly involving orbital penetration during zygoma implant placement. To our knowledge, the present case report is the first to describe an intraorbital hemorrhage that led to an orbital compression syndrome necessitating emergency surgery.

In our case, corrective surgery in a patient with zygomatic implants resulted in an intraorbital hemorrhage, followed by an orbital compression syndrome. Emergency surgery was immediately performed, allowing hematoma drainage and eliminating compression of the intraorbital content. Symptoms quickly resolved and eyesight was not compromised.