Subacute post-traumatic proptosis with spontaneous resolution

Abstract

Proptosis or exophthalmos is the forward protrusion of eye and maybe unilateral or bilateral, may occur spontaneously or after trauma and may be due to some underlying pathology or it could be isolated without systemic involvement. When proptosis occurs following trauma, it may be due to orbital hemorrhage, orbital edema or herniation of brain parenchyma as an encephalocoele through an orbital roof fracture; the latter condition having potential for emergent crisis requiring urgent surgery and can be life-threatening. Often encephalocoele (which requires surgery) and orbital hemorrhage (which can be managed conservatively) cannot be differentiated on CT, making the condition unpredictable and precarious. This case report is regarding a young male patient who developed subacute proptosis days after trauma, with subsequent resolution with conservative management.