Superior orbital fissure syndrome
Superior orbital fissure syndrome (SOFS) (also known as Rochon–Duvigneaud syndrome) is a rare complication of craniofacial trauma with an orbital fracture that extends to the superior orbital fissure that results in injury to the cranial nerves III, IV, V (ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve) and VI as they traverse the fissure into the orbit .
It also occurs due to other pathologies that may affect the superior orbital fissure:
- inflammatory e.g. Tolosa-Hunt syndrome
- malignancy e.g. head and neck, metastatic disease, lymphoma, perineural invasion by cutaneous malignancy
- infectious e.g. meningitis
- vascular lesions
Clinical presentation
- ophthalmoplegia or diplopia as a result of extraocular muscles paralysis
- ptosis due to paralysis of the levator palpebrae superioris, supplied by the third cranial nerve
- exophthalmos
- blindness or decreased vision represent additional injury to the optic nerve (II) that results in orbital apex syndrome
Treatment and prognosis
Conservative management is warranted unless there is a bony impingement of the neuronal structures and/or simultaneous compression of the optic nerve leading to blindness or diminished vision (orbital apex syndrome), which is a surgical emergency.
![Click für weniger anzeigen](/sites/all/modules/pacs/tools/imgs/collapse_up.png)