Post-traumatic transocular retained foreign body in the infratemporal fossa: a near miss

Abstract

The infratemporal fossa is an uncommon site for lodgement of foreign bodies. Fast-moving projectiles and displaced teeth may get impacted and have been described in the literature. However, foreign body lodgement in the retromaxillary space after transorbital passage is rare. The trajectory of the foreign bodies in such cases is difficult to predict and may not be suspected in the absence of overt clinical features. The authors present a case of a wooden splinter lodged within the infratemporal fossa after the patient sustained a lid injury with an orbital floor fracture. Imaging was equivocal; hence, endoscopic surgical exploration was undertaken, revealing the foreign body. A high index of clinical suspicion and rapid intervention is needed since unsuspected foreign bodies may cause further visual, infective or neurovascular complications. Approaches should be tailored on a case-by-case basis.

Keywords: ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology; otolaryngology / ENT.