Periorbital Ecchymosis

Periorbital Ecchymosis commonly known as Raccoon eye is a symptom of basal fracture of skulls where the meninges are ruptured or are resultant of certain cancers. This happens generally when the fracture in the facial region tears the meninges and allows the venous sinuses to bleed into the cranial sinuses and arachnoids villi. The sign of skull fracture can only be detected when there is ecchymosis at the back of the ear. This cannot be detected in an X-ray and patients are suggested not to blow their nose, not to strain or cough vigorously to prevent further damage in the meninges. Sometimes Orbital tumors, migraine and Giant cell arteries are the root cause for this disease.