Visual loss from bungee jumping

Physical exercise and glaucoma: a review on the roles of physical exercise on intraocular pressure control, ocular blood flow regulation, neuroprotection and glaucoma-related mental health

The benefits of physical exercise on health and well-being have been studied in a wide range of systemic and ocular diseases, including glaucoma, a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by accelerated apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and insufficient ocular perfusion have been postulated to be the two main theories in glaucoma development and progression. The effects of exercise in these two aspects have been demonstrated by numerous researches. A review in 2009 focusing on these two theories concluded that exercise results in transient IOP reduction but an inconsistent elevation in ocular perfusion. However, the majority of the studies had been conducted in healthy subjects. Over the past decade, technological advancement has brought forth new and more detailed evidence regarding the effects of exercise. Moreover, the neuroprotective effect of exercise by upregulation of neurotrophin and enhancement of mitochondrial function has been a focus of interest. Apart from visual impairment, the mental health issues in patients with glaucoma, which include anxiety and depression, should also be addressed. In this review, we mainly focus on publications from the recent years, so as to provide a comprehensive review on the impact of physical exercise on IOP, ocular perfusion, neuroprotection and mental health in patients with glaucoma.

Femoral Shaft Fracture during Bungee Jump: A Case Report and Literature Review

Bungee jumping is a recreational sport that is accepted to carry a level of risk. We present the case of a femoral fracture sustained during bungee jumping and examine the published literature on bungee jumping-related injuries. A previously well 31-year old female performed a 200ft bungee jump from a crane. The apparatus was performed as expected and documented on the bystander video footage. As the bungee-cord became taut for the second time, there was an audible crack with accompanying scream. A closed, neurovascularly-intact injury was sustained to her right thigh. Radiographs revealed a comminuted mid-diaphyseal spiral femoral fracture, which was treated with intra-medullary nail fixation the following day. Following loss of position with proximal fragment flexion, the intramedullary nail was revised with open reduction and cerclage wiring 6 weeks later. Progression to clinical and radiological union was uneventful. Fatalities in bungee jumping are generally secondary to trauma as a result of equipment malfunction, user error, or related to pre-existing co-morbidity2. As no records are kept on bungee jumping injuries in the UK, reliable statistics are not available regarding the relative risks of this sport. We conclude that incidence of bungee jumping injuries is likely to remain low, but consider that improved recording of bungee jumping-related injury data will allow providers to give customers a realistic quantification of risk before engaging in this sport.

Ocular injuries after bungee jumping: A case report and literature review

We report a case of ocular injury after bungee jumping. A 29-year-old woman presented with bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhage and periorbital petechiae after bungee jumping. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. Ocular examinations revealed no other intraocular hemorrhages. She received conservative treatment. One week later, the subconjunctival hemorrhage and periorbital petechiae resolved spontaneously. Her vision remained stable, and no detectable ocular complications were found during the follow-up. In conclusion, bungee jumping can cause ocular injuries. Further studies are required to identify their causes and potential risk factors.

Ocular injury due to bungee jumping

BACKGROUND: Bungee jumping is a well-established recreational activity in New Zealand and Australia which may be associated with injuries to the eyes and other tissues. CASE HISTORY: A patient with a retinal haemorrhage which resulted from bungee jumping is reported and the clinical characteristics described. DISCUSSION: There have been several reports of injury due to bungee jumping. The types of ocular injury are reviewed and the aetiological theories discussed.

After the fall: symptoms in bungee jumpers

A survey of 100 professionally supervised bungee jumpers who used an ankle harness in a single leap from a platform reveals that 42 jumpers had a total of 59 minor medical complaints or symptoms after their jumps. Immediate symptoms included musculoskeletal pain in the ankle, neck, back, and chest, neurologic complaints such as dizziness and headache, and blurred vision. Dizziness was the most common symptom, and neurologic complaints outnumbered musculoskeletal symptoms. All complaints resolved within 1 week of the jump except for lacerations sustained by one person who tried to grab the platform as he was jumping.

Orbital emphysema as a complication of bungee jumping

Bungee jumping is a dangerous sport with increasing popularity in the western world. We report the case of a 28-yr-old man who sustained an orbital emphysema as a result of bungee jumping. He jumped head first from a 160-ft high bridge over a river. At the end of the jump he dived into the water with his head in a reclined position. The sudden dive into the water caused an increase of the air pressure in the nose and paranasal sinuses, which led to an emphysema of the right orbit resulting from a skull fracture not detectable by x-ray. The patient was treated with oral antibiotics. Five days later, he had no clinical complaints and the ophthalmologic examination was normal. This variation of bungee jumping may bear severe risk factors for health in addition to those known from the classic jumps.