A Missed Periorbital Foreign Body

Abstract

Trauma involving the eye, orbital and periorbital regions are commonly seen in cases of road traffic accidents, sports injuries and physical assaults, but cases of intraorbital / periorbital foreign bodies are rare. Early presentation, history of trauma, and imaging help in diagnosis. However, sometimes the diagnosis is missed, particularly in cases with late presentation and a vague history of minor trauma and trauma with a non-metallic foreign body. A missed foreign body may present later with infection, repeated inflammation, ptosis, and proptosis and motility defect, further complicating the management.
 Here, we present a case of missed foreign body during the primary repair of facial injury in a 32-year male with polytrauma sustained in a road traffic accident. Evidence of foreign body was reported in a CT scan head advised for head injury. Re-exploration of wound and removal of foreign body is performed under local anaesthesia.