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Retrobulbar Hemorrhage: Etiology, Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, and Clinical Perspectives

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Emergencies of the Orbit and Adnexa

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Abstract

Retrobulbar hemorrhage is not an uncommon vision-threatening emergency which may develop as a result of blunt or penetrating craniofacial trauma, as a complication of surgeries on or near the orbit, as a result of an intraorbital vascular anomaly, or may even occur spontaneously. Recognition of the early symptoms and signs by ophthalmologists, maxillofacial surgeons, as well as emergency physicians is crucial. Although the diagnosis is mainly clinical and traditional teaching insists treatment to be initiated immediately to salvage the vision, radiology does have a role if the diagnosis is in doubt. Prevention starts preoperatively with proper history and examination and extends into operative care and postoperative follow-up. Surgeons operating in the orbital region should always be minded by such an emergency and its proper management.

The authors have no financial interest in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology, Ain Shams University Hospitals, 27705, Cairo, Egypt

    Hatem A. Tawfik MD

  2. Ain Shams University Hospitals, 1156, Cairo, Egypt

    Yousef Ahmed Fouad & Yasmin Ashraf Hamza

Authors
  1. Hatem A. Tawfik MD
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  2. Yousef Ahmed Fouad
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  3. Yasmin Ashraf Hamza
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Correspondence to Hatem A. Tawfik MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India

    Bipasha Mukherjee

  2. Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Hong Kong, China

    Hunter Yuen

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Tawfik, H.A., Fouad, Y.A., Hamza, Y.A. (2017). Retrobulbar Hemorrhage: Etiology, Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, and Clinical Perspectives. In: Mukherjee, B., Yuen, H. (eds) Emergencies of the Orbit and Adnexa. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1807-4_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1807-4_18

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  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-1807-4

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