Conservative Surgical Management of Unilateral Traumatic Proptosis in an Eight Week Old Boerboel

Abstract

Background: Traumatic proptosis is an ophthalmic emergency of concern in companion animal clinical practice, most breeders in Nigeria keep dogs in poorly organized facilities which often results in dog fights hence varying degrees of facial trauma occurs. This is becoming popular and one of the common causes of blindness in dogs. This study reports a case of dog fight which elicited acute traumatic proptosis of the right eye in an eight-week male Boerboel puppy. This was presented at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan with a proptotic right eye. History revealed that the trauma was caused by an adult male dog kept in the same kennel. Physical and clinical examinations revealed pronounced rostral protrusion of the globe however, the retrobulbar trunk was intact, despite being swollen, it was still firmly attached to the eye socket. There was no visible injury to the globe. Hemogram revealed mild hemorrhagic hypoproteinemia, adequate platelet counts, and normal leukogram thus surgical intervention was not contraindicated. Tramadol (4mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly, proptosed eye was kept moistened with sterile isotonic solution and cold pack. Globe replacement, lateral canthotomy and temporary tarsorrhaphy were performed under deep sedation with xylazine/atropine and local block via infiltration of lidocaine (10mg) around the upper and lower orbital regions. This case report describes the surgical management and outcome of severe traumatic proptosis of the right eye despite highly displaced globe, intact retro bulbar trunk and timely presentation. The surgical intervention provided cosmetic result and alternative to enucleation of the entire eye structure.