A case of Traumatic Asphyxia Associated with Ophthalmic Manifestation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Traumatic asphyxia is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by cervicofacial cyanosis, edema, and multiple petechiae after a severe chest crush injury, and ophthalmic involvement includes violaceous discoloration of lid, lid edema, bulbar subconjunctival hemorrhage, exophthalmos and retinal hemorrhage. The authors experienced a case of traumatic asphyxia with typical ophthalmic manifestations after a crush chest injury, and we report this case with literature review. METHODS: A-54-year old man was consulted for bilateral proptosis after a crush chest injury. Ophthal-mologice valuation and intervention were performed. RESULT: Right eye was not checked due to previous corneal opacity, but visual acuity was 0.8 and IOP was 45 mmHg in left eye. There were bilateral proptosis and severe bulbar subconjunctival hemorrhage, and orbital computed tomography showed orbit fat interposed between globe and medial orbital wall. IOP was controlled with medications and other clinical signs including proptosis showed progressive improvement.