Marfatia Hetal, Rattan Anav, Dixit Ritika, Mohapatra Prateek
Department of ENT & Head and Neck Surgery, Seth GS Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012 India.
Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 May;77(5):2145-2148. doi: 10.1007/s12070-025-05441-4. Epub 2025 Apr 8.
This study aims to present two rare cases of spontaneous orbital emphysema and analyze the literature to understand its etiology, clinical presentation, and management. This report describes two cases of spontaneous orbital emphysema, which was followed by a bout of sneezing in one case and following valsalva manoeuvre in the other. CT scan of the paranasal sinuses and the orbit demonstrated a fracture of the Lamina Papyracea in both cases. Spontaneous orbital emphysema is rare and self-limiting condition, triggered by actions like sneezing, nose blowing or valsalva manoeuvre. Most cases resolve with conservative treatment; however, some require urgent intervention to prevent vision loss. Spontaneous orbital emphysema, while rare, should be considered in patients with sudden periorbital swelling without history of trauma. Conservative management is often effective, but vigilant monitoring is crucial.