[Transnasal endoscopic management of foreign body injuries at orbital-skull base].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the feasibility and methods of transnasal endoscope for removing foreign bodies at orbital-skull base.

METHODS

Retrospective analyses were performed for 8 cases of foreign body injuries at orbital-skull base at our department from January 2009 to January 2014. The foreign bodies were metallic (n = 4) and wooden (n = 4). Six cases were only within orbit while the remainder had nasal-orbital foreign bodies. The symptoms included preoperative visual loss (n = 6), visual deterioration (n = 2) and eye movement disorder (n = 5). All underwent transnasal endoscopic removal.

RESULTS

Foreign bodies were totally removed. During a follow-up period of 3 months to 4 years, there was no recovery of preoperative visual loss (n = 6). Two patients with reduced vision recovered to normal after 3 months. Eye movement disorder fully recovered in 4 cases and 1 case of eye movement disorder had partial recovery.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic removal of foreign body at orbital-skull base has the advantage of mini-invasiveness and non-facial surgical scar.