A minor lid laceration concealing a potentially life-threatening injury

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Jul 10:2012:bcr0320125982. doi: 10.1136/bcr.03.2012.5982.

Abstract

A 29-year-man presented with an injury to his left upper lid, having stumbled onto the tip of a pool cue. He presented with minimal signs and symptoms, initially thought as a minor lid laceration and was managed with lid suturing. Two months later, he presented with vertical diplopia on upward gaze and showed a picture consistent with traumatic Brown's syndrome. Subsequent imaging revealed the extent of orbital injury and confirmed a retained foreign body embedded in the frontal lobe of the brain. This was surgically removed and found to represent the tip of the pool cue. Postoperatively, the patient made a good recovery, although he still has a slight residual diplopia on upward gaze.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Injuries / complications*
  • Brain Injuries / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diplopia / diagnosis
  • Diplopia / etiology*
  • Eye Injuries / complications*
  • Eye Injuries / diagnosis
  • Eyelids / injuries*
  • Foreign Bodies / complications*
  • Foreign Bodies / diagnosis
  • Frontal Lobe / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Lacerations / complications*
  • Lacerations / diagnosis
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed