Periorbital Emphysema After Dive Barotrauma Without Radiological Evidence of Paranasal Sinus Injury
Pennell DJL, Asimakopoulos P, Ram B, Veitch DY. Periorbital emphysema after dive barotrauma without radiological evidence of paranasal sinus injury. Aviat Space Environ Med 2014; 85:863–6.
Background: Scuba diving has increased in popularity since its invention in 1943, with over 21 million PADI registered members worldwide. Injuries to the paranasal sinuses caused by barotrauma are the second most common after injury to the middle ear. Case Report: In this paper we present a case of unilateral periorbital surgical emphysema in a 23-yr-old male commercial scuba diver with minimal symptoms following an uneventful 13-ft (4-m) dive. The only symptoms experienced were pain and pressure over the right maxillary sinus and retrorbitally. Imaging with computed tomography showed no fracture of his paranasal sinuses. Discussion: The authors recommend that a high index of suspicion for paranasal sinus barotrauma should be maintained in all patients reporting minor symptoms after diving (even to shallow depths) to facilitate rapid clinical diagnosis and prompt medical management.
Background: Scuba diving has increased in popularity since its invention in 1943, with over 21 million PADI registered members worldwide. Injuries to the paranasal sinuses caused by barotrauma are the second most common after injury to the middle ear. Case Report: In this paper we present a case of unilateral periorbital surgical emphysema in a 23-yr-old male commercial scuba diver with minimal symptoms following an uneventful 13-ft (4-m) dive. The only symptoms experienced were pain and pressure over the right maxillary sinus and retrorbitally. Imaging with computed tomography showed no fracture of his paranasal sinuses. Discussion: The authors recommend that a high index of suspicion for paranasal sinus barotrauma should be maintained in all patients reporting minor symptoms after diving (even to shallow depths) to facilitate rapid clinical diagnosis and prompt medical management.
Keywords: barotrauma; diving; paranasal; periorbital; pneumatization; scuba; sinus; surgical emphysema
Document Type: Case Report
Affiliations: Department of ENT Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK
Publication date: 01 August 2014
- The peer-reviewed monthly journal, Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine (ASEM) provides contact with physicians, life scientists, bioengineers, and medical specialists working in both basic medical research and in its clinical applications. It is the most used and cited journal in its field. ASEM is distributed to more than 80 nations.
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