Changes in management strategies after spontaneous migration of a retained intraorbital metallic foreign body.
OBJECTIVE
Because of the controversial biologic tolerance and management, retained intraorbital metallic foreign body (RIMFb) poses a formidable challenge to surgeons. Besides location of the foreign body, indications for surgical management include neurologic injury, mechanical restriction of the eye movement, and development of local infection or draining fistula. The authors describe an unusual case of spontaneous migration of a RIMFb.


METHODS
A 26-year-old man had a gunshot injury on the left orbit. The patient was initially managed conservatively because of the posterior position of the bullet fragment. Thereafter, because of the clinical impairments and anterior migration of projectile, surgical treatment was considered.


RESULTS
Spontaneous anterior migration has led to mechanical disturbances and inflammatory complications that comprise explicit surgical indications for removal. The patient underwent surgery with complete relief of symptoms. We suppose that extrinsic ocular muscles might play a role in shifting large RIMFb over time, leading to change in the management strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Spontaneous migration of RIMFb is a rare clinical situation that can lead to pain, local deformity, as well as changes in the management strategies of the affected patients even in the late phase of follow-up.
Mendes
Plínio Duarte
PD
Department of Surgical Specialties, Division of Neurosurgery, Pedro Ernesto University Hospital, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fariña
Edgar Garcete
EG
de Aguiar
Guilherme Brasileiro
GB
Telles
Carlos
C
Acioly
Marcus André
MA
D000328:Adult; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D009915:Orbit / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*
D008670:Metals