Traumatic Globe Enucleation After Blunt Head Injury

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Trauma Surgery
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Traumatic globe enucleation is a rare but severe ocular injury.
• It can result from direct or indirect trauma, even without significant orbital wall disruption.

Observation:

• A 57-year-old female presented with traumatic left globe enucleation after a fall.
• CT scan revealed optic nerve and extraocular muscle avulsions with orbital wall dislocation.
• Initial management was delayed due to intracranial hemorrhage, requiring ICU admission.

Findings:

• Surgical removal of the avulsed globe and optic nerve was performed after patient stabilization.
• The patient required close monitoring for sympathetic ophthalmia in the fellow eye.
• Future orbital reconstructive surgery and ocular prosthesis were planned.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering globe luxation in indirect head trauma.
• Prompt diagnosis and management are essential for optimizing outcomes in traumatic enucleation.
• Preventive measures to protect the fellow eye from trauma are advised for patients with pre-existing globe instability.