Orbital Emphysema as a Rare Complication of Septorhinoplasty: A Case Report Pages 14-17

Ahmed Alarfaj, Abdullah AlJasser and Yasin Subhan

ENT Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Saud University, P.O. Box 245, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12970/2308-7978.2014.02.02.1

Abstract: Orbital emphysema following rhinoplasty is an extremely rare complication. Only one case of sub-dermal emphysema was reported in the English literature following rhinoplasty directly in post-operative period and one reported case of sudden orbital emphysema during septorhinoplasty operation. A 29 year old male underwent open septorhinoplasty. Surgery was un eventful and no nasal packs were placed after surgery. Hours after surgery he developed right orbital swelling following forceful nose blowing and sneezing. CT scan showed extensive right orbital and peri-orbital emphysema extending to the right infra-temporal fossa. Emphysema was gradually resolving without any complications and disappeared completely on the 10th day post-operatively.

Keywords: Orbital emphysema, complication, septorhinoplasty, osteotomy. Read more