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Chapter: Medical Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Patients With Eye and Vision Disorders

Orbital Trauma

Injury to the orbit is usually associated with a head injury; hence,the patient’s general medical condition must first be stabilized before conducting an ocular examination.

Orbital and Ocular Trauma

Whether affecting the eye or the orbit, trauma to the eye and surrounding structures may have devastating consequences for vision.It is preferable to prevent injury rather than treat it. Chart 58-8details safety measures to prevent orbital and ocular trauma


ORBITAL TRAUMA

 

Injury to the orbit is usually associated with a head injury; hence,the patient’s general medical condition must first be stabilized before conducting an ocular examination. Only then is the globeassessed for soft tissue injury. During inspection, the face ismeticulously assessed for underlying fractures, which should always be suspected in cases of blunt trauma. To establish the extent of ocular injury, visual acuity is assessed as soon as possible, even if it is only a rough estimate. Soft tissue orbital injuries often result in damage to the optic nerve. Major ocular injuries indicated by a soft globe, prolapsing tissue, ruptured globe, hemorrhage, and loss of red reflex require immediate surgical attention.

Soft Tissue Injury and Hemorrhage

The signs and symptoms of soft tissue injury from blunt or pene-trating trauma include tenderness, ecchymosis, lid swelling, prop-tosis (ie, downward displacement of the eyeball), and hemorrhage.Closed injuries lead to contusions with subconjunctival hemor-rhage, commonly known as a black eye. Blood accumulates in the tissues of the conjunctiva. Hemorrhage may be caused by a soft tissue injury to the eyelid or by an underlying fracture.

 

Management of soft tissue hemorrhage that does not threaten vision is usually conservative and consists of thorough inspection, cleansing, and repair of wounds. Cold compresses are used in the early phase, followed by warm compresses. Hematomas that ap-pear as swollen, fluctuating areas may be surgically drained or as-pirated; if they are causing significant orbital pressure, they may be surgically evacuated.

 

Penetrating injuries or severe blow to the head can result in se-vere optic nerve damage. Visual loss can be sudden or delayed and progressive. Immediate loss of vision after an ocular injury is usu-ally irreversible. Delayed visual loss has a better prognosis. Cortico-steroid therapy is indicated to reduce optic nerve swelling. Surgery, such as optic nerve decompression, may be performed.

Orbital Fractures

Orbital fractures are detected by facial x-rays. Depending on the orbital structures involved, orbital fractures can be classified as blow-out, zygomatic or tripod, maxillary, midfacial, orbital apex, and orbital roof fractures. Blow-out fractures result from com-pression of soft tissue and sudden increase in orbital pressure when the force is transmitted to the orbital floor, the area of least resistance.

The inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles, with their fat and fascial attachments, or the nerve that courses along the infe-rior oblique muscle may become entrapped, and the globe may be displaced inward (ie, enophthalmos). Computed tomography (CT) can firmly identify the muscle and its auxiliary structures that are entrapped. These fractures are usually caused by blunt small objects, such as a fist, knee, elbow, or tennis or golf balls.

 

Orbital roof fractures are dangerous because of potential com-plications to the brain. Surgical management of these fractures requires a neurosurgeon and an ophthalmologist. The most com-mon indications for surgical intervention are displacement of bone fragments disfiguring the normal facial contours, interfer-ence with normal binocular vision caused by extraocular muscle entrapment, interference with mastication in zygomatic fracture, and obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. Surgery is usually non-emergent, and a period of 10 to 14 days gives the ophthalmolo-gist time to assess ocular function, especially the extraocular muscles and the nasolacrimal duct. Emergency surgical repair is usually not performed unless the globe is displaced to the maxil-lary sinus. Operative repair is primarily directed at freeing the en-trapped ocular structures and restoring the integrity of the orbital floor. Cosmetic surgery for deformities of the globe and enoph-thalmos may follow after 4 to 6 months, but successful repair is usually difficult.

Foreign Bodies

Foreign bodies that enter the orbit are usually tolerated, except for copper, iron, and vegetable materials such as those from plants or trees, which may cause purulent infection. X-rays andCT scans are used to identify the foreign body. Careful history taking is important, especially if the foreign body has been in the orbit for a period of time and the incident forgotten. It is im-portant to identify metallic foreign bodies because they prohibit the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a diagnostic tool.

 

After the extent of the orbital damage is assessed, the decision is made between conservative treatment and surgical removal. In general, orbital foreign bodies are usually removed if they are su-perficial and anterior in location, have sharp edges that may af-fect adjacent orbital structures, or are composed of copper, iron, or vegetable material. The surgical intervention is directed at pre-vention of further ocular injury and maintaining the integrity of the affected areas. Cultures are usually obtained, and the patient is placed on prophylactic intravenous antibiotics that are later changed to oral antibiotics.

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Medical Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Patients With Eye and Vision Disorders : Orbital Trauma |


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