Subperiosteal Orbital Hemorrhage: An Unusual Complication During Labor

Abstract

Subperiosteal orbital hemorrhage in the postpartum period has been rarely reported. The authors herein present a female patient who developed acute-onset vertical diplopia, proptosis, mild retro-orbital pain, and restriction of upgaze immediately after labor. Neuroimaging revealed a subperiosteal hematoma along the right orbital roof. Diplopia, motility limitation, and retro-orbital pain gradually resolved in the following weeks. Subperiosteal orbital hematomas are a rare complication of labor, with only 12 cases reported so far. They result from straining during labor, which increases central and orbital venous pressure by means of the Valsalva-maneuver. In order to evaluate ocular motility and exclude optic nerve compression, an urgent ophthalmological examination is required.

Spontaneous Orbital Hematoma: A Rare Complication of Vaginal Delivery

“…Nontraumatic orbital hemorrhage is an uncommon clinical entity, usually associated with vascular anomalies in the elderly [1]. It is even a rarer complication after labor with only 12 cases reported in the literature [2]. It seems to be associated with increased orbital vascular two days later, confirmed an intraorbital, extra-conic acute hematoma with 7 mm (maximum diameter), imposing inferior deviation of left ocular globe (Figure 2).…”