The patient is a 30 year old Indian male, with no significant medical
history, presented after a spanner struck his left chin. Despite the
impact, there were no direct injuries to his eyes, nose, or overlying
skin wounds correlating with the emphysema. Examination revealed
bilateral periorbital swelling with intact extraocular movements and no
diplopia. A 3cm left chin laceration and a superficial left neck abrasion
were noted but deemed unrelated to the emphysema.
Nasoendoscopy showed thick yellowish mucopus from the bilateral middle
meati. CT imaging confirmed extensive subcutaneous emphysema extending
into the orbits, without fractures, lamina papyracea defects, or any
depressed skull vault. The patient was treated with intranasal steroids,
nasal douche, decongestants, mucolytics, and oral Augmentin for
sinusitis, with complete resolution of symptoms.
Facial subcutaneous emphysema commonly arises from iatrogenic injuries,
trauma, or barotrauma. Rare cases linked to nose blowing involve orbital
fractures. This patient lacked such risk factors or fractures, suggesting
an unusual etiology unrelated to his sinusitis. |