Retained foreign body in the orbit and cavernous sinus with delayed presentation of superior orbital fissure syndrome: Case report

Reports of delayed onset of neurological symptoms after penetrating intracr anial trauma are rare. We present the case of a patient who presented with superior orbital fissure syndrome 72 hours after reported trauma to the rig ht eye. Subsequent workup revealed a foreign body located within the orbit, passing through the superior orbital fissure and into cavernous sinus, imp inging on the right cavernous carotid artery. Evidence of an intraorbital a bscess was also present. Surgical management consisted of a combination of frontopterional and orbital approaches to fully expose both the cavernous s inus and the orbital contents. The foreign body was removed and the abscess was drained. The carotid artery was found to be intact. At 10-month follow -up examination, a slight ptosis and medial gaze of the right eye persist. All other symptoms have resolved.