Foreign bodies in the orbit. Review of 20 cases.

The interdisciplinary problem of foreign bodies in the orbit is presented on the basis of personal experience in the treatment of 20 patients. These foreign bodies often cause severe injuries to the organ of sight and even threaten life. Early removal of a foreign body is technically easy, prevents infection and facilitates anatomical reconstruction of the damaged structures. Only in exceptional cases may removal be avoided. Of the 20 patients treated, only 9 were early admissions to our Department where the foreign body was removed and primary surgery performed. The others were admitted after some delay, which made correct treatment more difficult. Data on the injuries found in 20 patients, surgical technique, follow up and results are presented. Total recovery was obtained in 7 patients, improvement in vision in 2, enucleation of the globe was necessary in 5, and in 2 loss of vision was a sequel to a lesion of the optic nerve. Depending on the indications, reconstructive plastic surgery and prosthetic rehabilitation gave good aesthetic results. The necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with foreign bodies in the orbit is emphasized.