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Computed tomography of ocular trauma

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Abstract

A wide variety of ocular (eyeball and related soft tissues) injuries resulting from concussive (blunt) and penetrating trauma can be diagnosed by computed tomography (CT). CT can show intraorbital and intraocular emphysema and themorrhage, lens dislocation and subluxation, globe rupture associated with corneal and scleral lacerations, retinal and choroidal detachment, optic nerve injury, and extraocular muscle injury. CT also can localize foreign bodies, and identify injuries caused by them and determine their nature. Not only may CT provide useful information when ocular trauma is clinically suspected, but trauma head and face CT scans may identify unsuspected ocular injuries in the multiple trauma patient. It is imperative that orbital contents be scrutinized carefully on both soft tissue and bone windows of all trauma head and face CT scans in order that clinically significantly ocular injuries not be overlooked.

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Novelline, R.A., Liebig, T., Jordan, J. et al. Computed tomography of ocular trauma. Emergency Radiology 1, 56–67 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02628778

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