Postoperative orbital emphysema in a patient with nasoorbitoethmoidal fracture: Case report

A 33-year-old male patient with multiple facial bone fractures, along with optic nerve transection in the left eye due to a motor vehicle accident developed unilateral orbital emphysema in the right eye in the immediate postoperative period for facial fracture reduction. Following extubation, the patient developed laryngospasm, which necessitated forced manual hyperventilation, resulting in the escape of air into the orbit. Despite the common occurrence of orbital emphysema in orbital fractures, the condition may be severe and threaten the vision, which is especially important if the threat is to the "only seeing eye", as in our case. Early recognition and appropriate management in such cases is crucial to prevent possible sequela.