In a case of traumatic proptosis and limitation of movement, what is the most likely CT scan finding?

In cases of traumatic proptosis and limitation of movement, one of the most relevant findings on a CT scan would be a hematoma of the orbit. An orbital hematoma can occur due to blunt force trauma, leading to bleeding into the orbital space. This accumulation of blood can increase intraorbital pressure, causing proptosis (forward displacement of the eye) and restricting the movement of the extraocular muscles, which is consistent with the symptoms described.

The presence of a hematoma can often be seen as a high-attenuation zone on CT images, clearly differentiating it from the surrounding orbital structures. This finding correlates with the acute phase of trauma and helps explain both the proptosis and the limitation of eye movement due to potential muscle entrapment or displacement caused by the hematoma.

Other findings, such as a fracture of the medial orbital wall, may also occur but do not consistently explain the combination of proptosis and movement limitation as effectively as a hematoma can. Prolapse of orbital soft tissue and orbital emphysema may be associated with certain types of trauma but typically would present with different features or symptoms that do not align as closely with these specific findings.