title: When is a retrobulbar haemorrhage not a retrobulbar haemorrhage?
abstract: Retrobulbar haemorrhage (RBH) is a well described condition which is said to be a common cause of acute proptosis following trauma, but the evidence for this is not strong. The authors reviewed 186 publications on the subject, finding 82 cases of RBH related to trauma. This analysis suggests that in over half of the cases described, RBH was never proven conclusively. In the authors' experience RBH is not a common cause of acute proptosis following trauma and other causes need to be considered if patients are to be managed appropriately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ulster Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D009915:Orbit / Q000293:injuries; D019315:Retrobulbar Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012886:Skull / Q000293:injuries; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications