title: Spontaneous Decompression Fracture in Thyroid Eye Disease.
abstract: This is a case of a 44-year-old female with a history of Graves' orbitopathy presented to the emergency department after waking from a nap with sudden onset of left facial and periorbital swelling, ecchymosis, and subconjunctival hemorrhage. A CT scan obtained in the emergency department revealed a left blowout fracture and enlarged extraocular muscles. The patient lives with her mother and both adamantly denied any trauma. The patient had sustained a spontaneous orbital fracture; a process reported but few times in the medical literature.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology and †Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Kyle T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed