Orbital Compartment Syndrome After Frontotemporal Craniotomy: Case Report and Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is a rare condition characterized by increased intraorbital pressure and hypoperfusion of critical neural structures. It is usually associated with external ophthalmoplegia. We report a case of postoperative OCS following a frontotemporal craniotomy and review pertinent literature.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 3-year-old female patient presented with a 3-year history of refractory epilepsy and diagnosis of right frontobasal cortical dysplasia. She underwent an elective frontotemporal craniotomy to allow resection of dysplastic cortex. The intraoperative period was uneventful. Postoperatively, following removal of operating fields, we noticed proptosis and right periorbital swelling. A diagnosis of orbital compartment syndrome was made. At the pediatric intensive care unit, the patient underwent an emergency right lateral canthotomy with wide inferior and superior cantholysis. Nowadays she is in the fourth month of postoperative follow-up. There is still slight and almost indistinguishable exophthalmos, but her extrinsic eye movement ranges and reaction to light are normal.

DISCUSSION: OCS is a rare ophthalmologic emergency characterized by an acute rise in orbital pressure and may result in complete irreversible blindness if not rapidly treated. The frontotemporal or "pterional" craniotomy exposure requires a myocutaneous flap to be retracted anteriorly and inferiorly near the orbit. There may be orbital compression due to this flap leading to potential harmful complications. Attention to factors such as direct ocular pressure from skin flaps, congestion from head positioning, and adequate intraoperative eye protection may reduce the risk or allow faster management.