[Echographic differential diagnosis of post-traumatic motility disorders of the eye]

Following an analysis of echographic findings in 94 patients with posttraumatic ocular motility disorders, a flow-chart for detecting the basic pathomechanism was worked out. Normal muscle diameter is observed in entrapment of the perimuscular tissues or in a recent palsy, whereas increased muscle thickness suggests hematoma or incarceration, and thinned muscles an atrophy. A lack of change in muscle diameter when the patient looks in the direction in which motility is restricted is characteristic of atrophy or palsy, whereas an increase in muscle diameter is a sign of incarceration if a fracture has also been detected by echography; if not, muscle hematoma can be diagnosed.