Case report: extreme patient positioning for retinal surgery in advanced kyphosis.

PURPOSE: To describe the atypical intraoperative positioning of a kyphosis patient resulting in successful retinal detachment repair. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 66-year-old man presented with bilateral vision loss, and pars plana lensectomy and retinal detachment repair were planned for the left eye. Innovative surgical positioning was required for the patient's severe ankylosing spondylitis-related kyphosis, a fixed 90° curvature of his cervical spine. With straps, orthopedic padding and surgical tape, he was securely placed head-down on the operating table. No intraoperative complications occurred, and the retina remained attached at follow-up. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of special positioning for a 90° kyphosis patient requiring retinal surgery. Extreme spinal curvature can hinder suitable horizontal positioning of the eye, but resourceful solutions can make surgical repair possible.

Unusual ocular injury by an acupuncture needle.

PURPOSE: To educate ophthalmologists on the potential dangers of periocular acupuncture and to describe an unusual mechanism of retinal injury. METHODS: A 42-year-old woman who presented with blurred central vision and loss of peripheral vision. Her medical history was significant for hemifacial spasms related to a facial nerve injury, for which she had sought treatment. Clinical examination showed vertically oriented subretinal track measuring 12 mm in length, contiguous to the macula, with normal optic nerve appearance and foveal reflexes. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed a full-thickness perforation of the neurosensory retina at the inferior retinal arcade. Visual field testing 3 weeks after her injury showed 90% loss of her nasal hemifield. Electroretinography performed 8 weeks postinjury showed a 50% decrease in the right B-wave. Multifocal electroretinography showed a mild decrease in the recording of the right eye versus that of the left eye. CONCLUSION: Based on the history and clinical findings, the acupuncture needle penetrated the inferior globe and created a subretinal track. The particular location of the needle entry into the eye and the extreme malleability of the acupuncture needle created a long subretinal track. Ophthalmologists should be familiar with the ocular injuries caused by periocular acupuncture therapies.