Orbito-cranial injuries caused by penetrating non-missile foreign bodies. Experience with eighteen patients.

Background: Penetrating non-missile orbito-cranial injuries are uncommon civilian injuries which have some special features. Only limited case-reports are available in the international literature.

Methods: We present a retrospective review of 18 such in presumed trivial orbital injury. Early identification and removal of retained foreign body fragments was achieved within 36 hours.

Results: Patients were operated on and followed up for at least of 3 years. The final clinical outcome was excellent: 16 had a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of 5 while in the remaining 2 it was 4.

Conclusions: The present report indicates that good results, in managing such injuries, can be achieved by a high index of suspicion and early diagnosis of intracranial injury in presumed trivial wounds and by the removal of every possible retained foreign body.