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A case of orbital compartment syndrome caused by orbital abscess in an immunocompetent pediatric patient.

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Title: A case of orbital compartment syndrome caused by orbital abscess in an immunocompetent pediatric patient.
Authors: McLaughlin D; Mizzou Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, USA., Rait X; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: xjrbt8@health.missouri.edu., Janssens M; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: msjknr@health.missouri.edu., Cutler K; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: cutlerko@health.missouri.edu., Pelletier J; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: jessicapelletier@health.missouri.edu.
Source: The American journal of emergency medicine [Am J Emerg Med] 2026 Oct; Vol. 108, pp. 130-132. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 13.
Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: W B Saunders Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8309942 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1532-8171 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 07356757 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Emerg Med Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 1983- : Philadelphia, PA : W B Saunders
Original Publication: [Philadelphia, PA. : Centrum Philadelphia, c1983]-
MeSH Terms: Compartment Syndromes*/etiology , Compartment Syndromes*/surgery , Abscess*/complications , Abscess*/surgery , Abscess*/microbiology , Orbital Cellulitis*/complications , Orbital Diseases*, Sinusitis/complications ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Immunocompetence
Abstract: Orbital compartment syndrome, a condition in which increased pressure within the orbit can cause permanent visual impairment, can be caused by infection or trauma. Orbital cellulitis is a spectrum of infection that can progress to abscess formation within the orbit, subsequently leading to orbital compartment syndrome. We describe the case of an immunocompetent pediatric patient who developed an orbital abscess from asymptomatic sinusitis, which led to orbital compartment syndrome. He received a lateral canthotomy and cantholysis followed by definitive management of his orbital abscess and experienced good visual outcomes. This case highlights the importance of checking intraocular pressures in patients presenting with orbital infections, and the need for swift intervention in cases of suspected orbital compartment syndrome.
(Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Emergency medicine; Ophthalmology; Orbital abscess; Orbital cellulitis; Orbital compartment syndrome
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Anti-Bacterial Agents)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260618 Date Completed: 20260827 Latest Revision: 20260827
Update Code: 20260828
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2026.06.018
PMID: 42314344
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: A case of orbital compartment syndrome caused by orbital abscess in an immunocompetent pediatric patient.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22McLaughlin+D%22">McLaughlin D</searchLink>; Mizzou Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Rait+X%22">Rait X</searchLink>; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: xjrbt8@health.missouri.edu.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Janssens+M%22">Janssens M</searchLink>; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: msjknr@health.missouri.edu.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Cutler+K%22">Cutler K</searchLink>; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: cutlerko@health.missouri.edu.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Pelletier+J%22">Pelletier J</searchLink>; Mizzou Department of Emergency Medicine, 1 Hospital Drive # M562, Columbia, MO 65201, USA. Electronic address: jessicapelletier@health.missouri.edu.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%228309942%22">The American journal of emergency medicine</searchLink> [Am J Emerg Med] 2026 Oct; Vol. 108, pp. 130-132. <i>Date of Electronic Publication: </i>2026 Jun 13.
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  Data: <i>Publisher: </i><searchLink fieldCode="PB" term="%22W+B+Saunders%22">W B Saunders </searchLink><i>Country of Publication: </i>United States <i>NLM ID: </i>8309942 <i>Publication Model: </i>Print-Electronic <i>Cited Medium: </i>Internet <i>ISSN: </i>1532-8171 (Electronic) <i>Linking ISSN: </i><searchLink fieldCode="IS" term="%2207356757%22">07356757 </searchLink><i>NLM ISO Abbreviation: </i>Am J Emerg Med <i>Subsets: </i>MEDLINE
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  Data: <i>Publication</i>: 1983- : Philadelphia, PA : W B Saunders<br /><i>Original Publication</i>: [Philadelphia, PA. : Centrum Philadelphia, c1983]-
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Compartment+Syndromes%22">Compartment Syndromes*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Compartment+Syndromes+etiology%22">etiology</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Compartment+Syndromes%22">Compartment Syndromes*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Compartment+Syndromes+surgery%22">surgery</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Abscess%22">Abscess*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Abscess+complications%22">complications</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Abscess%22">Abscess*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Abscess+surgery%22">surgery</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Abscess%22">Abscess*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Abscess+microbiology%22">microbiology</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Orbital+Cellulitis%22">Orbital Cellulitis*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Orbital+Cellulitis+complications%22">complications</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Orbital+Diseases%22">Orbital Diseases*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Sinusitis%22">Sinusitis</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Sinusitis+complications%22">complications</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Anti-Bacterial+Agents%22">Anti-Bacterial Agents</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Anti-Bacterial+Agents+therapeutic+use%22">therapeutic use</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Humans%22">Humans</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Male%22">Male</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Tomography%2C+X-Ray+Computed%22">Tomography, X-Ray Computed</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Immunocompetence%22">Immunocompetence</searchLink>
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  Data: Orbital compartment syndrome, a condition in which increased pressure within the orbit can cause permanent visual impairment, can be caused by infection or trauma. Orbital cellulitis is a spectrum of infection that can progress to abscess formation within the orbit, subsequently leading to orbital compartment syndrome. We describe the case of an immunocompetent pediatric patient who developed an orbital abscess from asymptomatic sinusitis, which led to orbital compartment syndrome. He received a lateral canthotomy and cantholysis followed by definitive management of his orbital abscess and experienced good visual outcomes. This case highlights the importance of checking intraocular pressures in patients presenting with orbital infections, and the need for swift intervention in cases of suspected orbital compartment syndrome.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Emergency medicine; Ophthalmology; Orbital abscess; Orbital cellulitis; Orbital compartment syndrome
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        Value: 10.1016/j.ajem.2026.06.018
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        StartPage: 130
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sinusitis complications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Humans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Male
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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      – SubjectFull: Compartment Syndromes etiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Compartment Syndromes surgery
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      – SubjectFull: Orbital Cellulitis complications
        Type: general
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        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: A case of orbital compartment syndrome caused by orbital abscess in an immunocompetent pediatric patient.
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              Text: 2026 Oct
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