Penetrating Transorbital Intracranial Injury Due To Ballpoint Pen: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze existing literature for presentation, management, and outcomes of penetrating transorbital intracranial injury due to ballpoint pen with emphasis on multidisciplinary management and report an additional case of this rare entity with significant abscess.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE with keywords "orbit," "transorbital," or "intracranial" and "pen" or "ballpoint pen." Individual cases were included if both transorbital and intracranial injury were present and if the underlying intraorbital foreign body was whole or parts of a pen. We additionally describe a case from our institution with penetrating transorbital intracranial injury due to a ballpoint pen.

Results: Sixteen prior cases were identified, with 1 additional case presenting to our institution for 17 patients total. The mean age was 33.2 years (1.83-60 years). Most were male and adults, although 4 were children. Common etiologies were self-inflicted suicide attempts (n = 11), falls (n = 3), and assaults (n = 3), the latter including our patient. Vascular involvement was noted in 3 cases, and 2 patients had intracranial abscess. Patients frequently underwent combination surgery with neurosurgery and oculoplastic surgery, but persistent neurologic or vision defects remained present postoperatively in most patients (58.8%) at a mean of 6.4 ± 8.1 months. Our patient was only the second adult case due to assault and the only case with an extensive culture-positive abscess but fortunately had a good neurological outcome.

Conclusions: Ballpoint pens may rarely be associated with penetrating transorbital intracranial injury. Prompt diagnosis, careful evaluation, and multidisciplinary collaboration for surgical removal and management are critical.