title: Severe subcutaneous emphysema following orbital blowout fracture.
abstract: A 19-year-old man sustained a blowout fracture to the left orbital floor. Subcutaneous emphysema developed after a protracted sneezing episode. Some signs of respiratory distress ensued, and the patient was emergently intubated. He underwent surgical repair of the fracture and then had further extension of the subcutaneous emphysema. The left nasal cavity was packed and the emphysema slowly resolved. Clinically significant subcutaneous emphysema is an uncommon complication of orbital blowout fracture. Informing the patient to avoid excessive nose-blowing and to avoid occluding the nose while sneezing may prevent this complication.
authors.affiliation: Oculoplastics Service, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53792-3220, USA.
authors.forename: Donny L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lucarelli
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery