Wooden foreign bodies in the orbital area

The presence of foreign bodies in the orbital area is a great challenge for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Their presence is, in most cases, accompanied by serious complications, which do not only affect the functional integrity of the eyeball, but also the integrity of adjacent structures. These complications may vary depending on the size, shape and texture of the foreign body, as well as the injury mechanism. The early identification of these foreign bodies, on the basis of a careful clinical examination combined with imaging findings, will lead to the appropriate treatment of the patient. Special attention is required in cases of foreign bodies of plant origin, since their identification is very difficult, even with the use of the most advanced imaging techniques. The aim of this paper is to present the treatment of two cases of wooden foreign bodies in the orbital area. We describe our diagnostic approach, the treatment, as well as the various questions arising from the handling of similar cases.