Assessment of ocular trauma associated with head and neck injuries

Montreal Brain Injury Vision Screening Test for General Practitioners

Visual disturbances are amongst the most commonly reported symptoms after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) despite vision testing being uncommon at initial clinical evaluation. TBI patients consistently present a wide range of visual complaints, including photophobia, double vision, blurred vision, and loss of vision which can detrimentally affect reading abilities, postural balance, and mobility. In most cases, especially in rural areas, visual disturbances of TBI would have to be diagnosed and assessed by primary care physicians, who lack the specialized training of optometry. Given that TBI patients have a restricted set of visual concerns, an opportunity exists to develop a screening protocol for specialized evaluation by optometrists—one that a primary care physician could comfortably carry out and do so in a short time. Here, we designed a quick screening protocol that assesses the presence of core visual symptoms present post-TBI. The MOBIVIS (Montreal Brain Injury Vision Screening) protocol takes on average 5 min to perform and is composed of only “high-yield” tests that could be performed in the context of a primary care practice and questions most likely to reveal symptoms needing further vision care management. The composition of our proposed protocol and questionnaire are explained and discussed in light of existing protocols. Its potential impact and ability to shape a better collaboration and an integrative approach in the management of mild TBI (mTBI) patients is also discussed.

The management of ocular and peri-ocular trauma needs to be co-ordinated according to ATLS principles and requires multi-disciplinary collaboration

INTRODUCTION

This project set out to focus on ocular (globe) and peri-ocular trauma and to describe the spectrum of injuries seen in a busy South African trauma unit and to document their management and outcome.

RESULTS

During the period November 2012 to April 2020, a total of 12 115 patients were managed by the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service (PMTS) at Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Of these 2194 (11%) sustained ocular or peri-ocular injury. Of these 2194 patients, 1069 (83%) were male. 83% of injuries (n=1076) were classified as primarily blunt injury and 17% as a primarily sharp/penetrating mechanism. A substantial number of patients required a life-saving emergency intervention. These included resuscitation in 242 cases (19%) and active airway intervention was in 290 (22%). In total 919 (71%) patients required urgent surgery to the peri-ocular region. Slightly over half (55%) of these the surgery was performed by a single discipline. The rest needed procedures by two or more disciplines. The disciplines involved included ophthalmology, maxillofacial, plastic, ENT and neurosurgery. Plastic surgery was involved in 683 cases (53%). A total of 341 distant surgeries were required - These included orthopaedic operations, laparotomy and vascular operations. Of the 1294 cases in this study, 42 (3%) died before discharge and 99 (8%) were discharged with a GCS lower than 10. The primary skill set for management of these injuries is identified.

CONCLUSION

Although the management of immediate life and organ threatening injuries takes priority, ocular and peri-ocular trauma may damage a number of important structures and their comprehensive management requires a multi-disciplinary team of specialists or, in austere environments, a font-line medical team with a diverse skill set.

An unusual transorbital penetrating injury and principles of management

The objective of this study was to present an unusual low velocity transorbital penetrating injury. The study design was a clinical record (case report). A 38-year-old gentleman tripped and fell face first onto the wing of an ornamental brass eagle. This penetrated the inferomedial aspect of the right orbit, breaching the lamina papyracea to extend into the ethmoid sinuses and reaching the dura of the anterior cranial fossa. The foreign body was removed in theater under a joint ophthalmology and ENT procedure. The patient was left with reduced visual acuity in the right eye but no other long-term sequelae. Transorbital penetrating injury presents unusual challenges to investigation and management requiring a multidisciplinary approach to prevent significant morbidity and mortality. If managed well the prognosis is good.

Role of the maxillofacial surgeon in the management of severe ocular injuries after maxillofacial fractures

Aim:

This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of severe ocular injuries associated to maxillofacial fractures and report their management in the Emergency Department.

Patients and Methods:

Among the 1779 patients admitted for maxillofacial fractures, those with partial or total loss of vision at the time of emergency consultation were included in the study. Data collected from the patients’ medical records included age, gender, mechanism of injury, location and type of facial fractures, type of ocular injuries and cause of blindness, methods of treatment, and days of hospitalization.

Results:

Forty patients (2.2%), 32 men and 8 women, ranging from 17 to 85 years of age, presented with severely reduced vision or blindness associated to fractures of the facial middle third with involvement of one or more orbital walls, mainly caused by motor vehicle and work accidents. In 18 patients, severe ocular injuries were determined by direct lesion of the globe, in 14 by direct or indirect traumatic optic neuropathy and in 8 by a retrobulbar hematoma. Direct lesion of the eyeball was treated by prompt repair or enucleation of the globe, though no or little recovery of vision was obtained. Ophthalmologic and/or maxillofacial treatment of the anterior compartment lesions of the eye allowed a partial or total recovery of the vision. A partial or total recovery of the vision was observed in almost all the patients with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy after administration of steroids according to NASCIS II protocol. Likewise, an evident improvement of the vision was obtained by immediate drainage of retrobulbar hematoma.

Conclusions:

Early diagnosis of the nature of the ophthalmic injury and treatment are important, and involvement of the ophthalmologist is mandatory.

Concomitant cranial and ocular combat injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom

BACKGROUND

Concomitant cranial and ocular injuries were frequently seen in combat casualties during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The incidence of these injuries is reported along with an interventional case series.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of all surgical patients treated by U.S. Army neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists in Iraq from December 2005 to April 2006.

RESULTS

Out of 104 patients with cranial trauma and 158 patients with ocular trauma, 34 had both cranial and ocular injuries (32.7 and 21.5% of patients with cranial and ocular injuries, respectively). Neurosurgical procedures included exploratory craniotomy, decompressive craniectomy, and frontal sinus surgery. Ophthalmologic surgical procedures included globe exploration, open globe repair, primary enucleation, orbital fracture repair, lateral canthotomy and cantholysis, and repair of lid and periocular lacerations. Patients with cranial trauma had a higher incidence of orbital fracture, orbital compartment syndrome, and multiple ocular injuries compared with patients without cranial trauma (odds ratio 6.4, 3.9, and 3.3, respectively).

CONCLUSION

A strong association exists between cranial and ocular trauma in combat casualties treated during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Combat health support personnel should maintain a high level of suspicion for one of these injuries when the other is present. Co-locating neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists in support of combat operations facilitates the optimal treatment of patients with these combined injuries.

Emergency care in facial trauma--a maxillofacial and ophthalmic perspective

Facial trauma, with or without life- and sight-threatening complications, may arise following isolated injury, or it may be associated with significant injuries elsewhere. Assessment needs to be both systematic and repeated, with the establishment of clearly stated priorities in overall care. Although the American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) system of care is generally accepted as the gold standard in trauma care, it has potential pitfalls when managing maxillofacial injuries, which are discussed. Management of facial trauma can arguably be regarded as "facial orthopaedics", as both specialities share common management principles. This review outlines a working approach to the identification and management of life- and sight-threatening conditions following significant facial trauma.

Blindness after Blunt Facial Trauma: Are There Any Clinical Clues to Early Recognition?

BACKGROUND

Vision-threatening injury is a relatively rare but devastating complication of maxillofacial trauma. Identification is not always straightforward. The purpose of this study was to look at our experience of blindness after blunt facial injuries to see whether any useful patterns or risk factors were identified to assist in early recognition.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, qualitative study undertaken at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. All case notes, plain radiographs, and computed tomographic scans were reviewed and the relevant data collated.

RESULTS

Over a 10-year period, 17 patients were identified in which loss of vision occurred secondary to blunt injury to the face.

CONCLUSION

It is important to maintain a high index of suspicion when dealing with maxillofacial trauma, particularly if the patient is not cooperative. We provide a list of salient features to look for in the examination and history to aid the clinician.

Prevalence of significant intraocular sequelae in blunt orbital trauma

The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of significant intraocular sequelae (SIOS) and its correlation with the severity of blunt orbital trauma. Four hundred ten consecutive patients presenting to the ED who had sustained blunt orbital trauma were studied. The severity of orbital trauma was graded and SIOS was determined by the presence of an intraocular injury as listed in Table 2. The presence of SIOS was noted in 14 (41.2%) mild, 22 (59.5%) moderate, and 20 (29.4%) severe orbital trauma. In the severe group, the presence of SIOS was detected in 8 (23.5%) blowout fractures and in 12 (35.3%) non-blowout fractures. In view of the high rates of ocular complications among mild and moderate orbital injuries, such patients should have prompt ophthalmic follow up. The relatively low prevalence of SIOS in patients with severe orbital trauma could suggest a protective mechanism in this type of injury.