A Missed Periorbital Foreign Body

Trauma involving the eye, orbital and periorbital regions are commonly seen in cases of road traffic accidents, sports injuries and physical assaults, but cases of intraorbital / periorbital foreign bodies are rare. Early presentation, history of trauma, and imaging help in diagnosis. However, sometimes the diagnosis is missed, particularly in cases with late presentation and a vague history of minor trauma and trauma with a non-metallic foreign body. A missed foreign body may present later with infection, repeated inflammation, ptosis, and proptosis and motility defect, further complicating the management.

Here, we present a case of missed foreign body during the primary repair of facial injury in a 32-year male with polytrauma sustained in a road traffic accident. Evidence of foreign body was reported in a CT scan head advised for head injury. Re-exploration of wound and removal of foreign body is performed under local anaesthesia.