Introduction

Orbital emphysema is caused by a communication of air from the paranasal sinuses into the orbit along a pressure gradient. Small orbital fractures may form a one-way valve that allows air inflow and prohibits air outflow, causing progressively increasing intraorbital pressure that leads to an acute orbital compartment syndrome. This presentation is also known as progressive orbital emphysema.1 Differentiating benign orbital emphysema from progressive orbital emphysema is critical because benign orbital emphysema, without compartment syndrome, spontaneously regresses without adverse sequelae. Progressive emphysema, however, often requires urgent decompression of the trapped air and acute orbital compartment syndrome. Irreversible vision loss may ensue due to vascular compromise or mechanical stretching of the optic nerve. We describe a case and—for the first time to the authors’ knowledge—provide video documentation of successful bedside needle decompression of the orbit.