Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Orbital emphysema: how common, how significant?

R B Birrer¹, T Robinson, P Papachristos

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn, Jamaica, New York.

Annals of Emergency Medicine

|December 1, 1994

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Editorial: EFSA's Food and Feed Safety Crisis Preparedness and Response.

EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority·2026

Same author

UK real-world evidence on pembrolizumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer.

ESMO real world data and digital oncology·2026

Same author

Does digital mental health live up to its promise? An international study among people experiencing anxiety, carers and healthcare professionals.

Health (London, England : 1997)·2026

Same author

UK multicentre real-world data of the use of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer.

ESMO real world data and digital oncology·2026

Same author

Editorial: Increasing robustness, transparency and openness of scientific assessments.

EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority·2025

Same author

Investigating the Factor Structure of the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite and Cognitive Function Index across Racial/Ethnic, Sex, and Aβ Status Groups in the A4 Study.

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease·2024

Same journal

Variation in Emergency Department Experience With Pediatric Critical Illness.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Point-of-Care Ultrasound-Guided Hydrostatic Reduction of Ileocolic Intussusception in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Managing Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Needle Thoracostomy: Implications of Chest Wall Thickness for Anatomical Location and Needle Length.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Women Emergency Physicians and Gender Disparities from Entry to Advancement.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Policy Statements Approved March 2026.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

See all related articles

Orbital emphysema, often caused by trauma, requires careful evaluation for associated injuries in the emergency department (ED). While antibiotics are common, prophylactic use may not be necessary for clean wounds.

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Emergency Medicine
Trauma Surgery

Background:

Orbital emphysema is a rare condition characterized by the presence of air in the orbital tissues.
It is typically associated with facial trauma, particularly orbital floor fractures.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe the natural history of orbital emphysema.
To outline its management in the emergency setting.

Main Methods:

Retrospective review of medical records.
Inclusion of all orbital floor fracture and orbital emphysema cases from 1988 to 1993.
Data collected from an inner-city integrated hospital system.

Main Results:

The average patient was 33 years old, with a 7:1 male-to-female ratio.

Related Experiment Videos

Trauma was the cause in all cases; 74% required hospitalization and 43% had complications.

Orbital emphysema was detected on radiographs in 65% of cases; 83% received antibiotics.

Conclusions:

ED identification of orbital emphysema necessitates a thorough search for associated injuries.
Consultation is advised for orbital or ocular injuries.
Antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated for clean wounds.