ORBITAL EMPHYSEMA AS A COMPLICATION OF BUNGEE JUMPING

Bungee jumping is a dangerous sport with increasing popularity in the western world. We report the case of a 28-yr-old man who sustained an orbital emphysema as a result of bungee jumping. He jumped head first from a 160-ft high bridge over a river. At the end of the jump he dive d into the water with his head in a reclined position. The sudden dive into the water caused an acute increase of the air pressure in the no se and paranasal sinuses, which led to an emphysema of the right orbit resulting from a skull fracture not detectable by x-ray. The patient was treated with oral antibiotics. Five days later, he had no clinical complaints and the ophthalmologic examination was normal. This variat ion of bungee jumping may bear severe risk factors for health in addit ion to those known from the classic jumps.