Imaging Case of the Week 278 Answer

The facial x-ray shows a left-sided orbital blow-out fracture. Furthermore:

  1. There is an ‘eyebrow’ sign, as evidenced by a rim of thin air below the left supra- orbital margin. The air in the left orbital cavity (i.e. orbital emphysema) is due to a fracture of the inferior orbital wall that has caused air from the maxillary sinus to enter the eye socket and rise superiorly in an upright direction.
  2. There is fluid in the left maxillary sinus.
  3. There is irregularity of the floor of the left infra-orbital margin.

The patient underwent a CT scan of the face, which revealed a fractured left medial orbital wall in addition to the left orbital blow-out fracture.

Reference: Grainger & Allison’s Diagnostic Radiology Essentials.