An Orbital Abscess Secondary to Intraoral Impalement

Penetrating orbital trauma in the pediatric population is rare. Even more unusual is a secondary orbital infection following penetrating trauma. Here we present a highly unusual case of fulminant facial cellulitis with an orbital abscess in an otherwise healthy 3-year-old boy following a penetrating injury to the orbit from a point of entry on the gingiva-buccal sulcus, sustained during a fall while carrying a wooden lollipop stick. Examination of the retina revealed a focal injury at the inferior pole of the globe. The organisms cultured from pus sampled from the abscess and from the discharging intraoral wound revealed the same oral commensals while the MRI revealed a track in continuity with the orbital collection.