Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T18:50:23.615Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Lateral canthotomy and cantholysis: a simple, vision-saving procedure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Gord McInnes  and
Daniel W. Howes
Gord McInnes*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont Division of Critical Care, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont
Daniel W. Howes
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont Division of Critical Care, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ont Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ont
*
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart St., Kingston ON K7L 2V7; gordmcinnes@home.com

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Lateral canthotomy and cantholysis is a simple procedure that can be performed by emergency physicians. It has the potential to save vision, particularly in cases of blunt ocular trauma. The case of a 37-year-old man with blunt ocular trauma, a retrobulbar hemorrhage and rapidly increasing orbital pressure requiring an urgent lateral canthotomy and cantholysis is presented. Pathophysiology, indications, contraindications, procedure and follow-up care are described.

Keywords

lateral canthotomy and cantholysisocular traumaretrobulbar hematoma
Type
Procedures in Em • Actes ThéRapeutiques en MU
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , January 2002 , pp. 49 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2002

References

1.Linden, JA, Renner, GS.Trauma to the globe. Emerg Med Clin North Am 1995;13(3):581–605.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Samples, JR, Hedges, JR.Ophthalmologic procedures. In: Roberts, JR, Hedges, JR, editors. Clinical procedures in emergency medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co; 1998. p. 1089–119.Google Scholar
3.Baker, SM, Hurwitz, JJ.Sports and industrial ophthalmology: management of orbital and ocular adnexal trauma. Ophthalmol Clin North Am 1999;12(3):435–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Crumpton, KL, Shockley, LW.Ocular trauma: a quick, illustrated guide to treatment, triage, and medicolegal implications. Emerg Med Rep 1997;18(23):223–34.Google Scholar
5.Keeney, AH.Ocular examination. St Louis: CV Mosby; 1970. p. 120–3.Google Scholar
6.Lubeck, D.Penetrating ocular injuries. Emerg Med Clin North Am 1988;6(1):127–46.Google Scholar
7.Brunette, DD, Ghezzi, K, Renner, GS: Ophthalmologic disorders. In: Rosen, P, Barkin, R, Danzl, DF, Hockberger, RS, Ling, LJ, Markovchick, V, et al, editors. Emergency medicine: concepts and clinical practice. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby–Year Book Inc.; 1998. p. 2700.Google Scholar
8.Wilson-Pauwels, L, Akesson, EJ, Stewart, PA.Cranial nerves. Toronto: BC Decker Inc.; 1988. p. 10–39.Google Scholar
9.Knoop, K, Trott, A.Ophthalmological procedures in the emergency department: immediate sight-saving procedures. Acad Emerg Med 1994;1:408–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Larsen, M, Wieslander, S.Acute orbital compartment syndrome after lateral blow-out fracture effectively relieved by lateral cantholysis. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 1999;77:232–3.Google Scholar