Visual loss due to orbital fracture. The role of early reduction

Serious injury to the optic nerve is an uncommon, usually permanent, complication of orbital fractures. Occasionally it is due to reversible changes, such as edema, contusion, or compression of the optic nerve. The early management of visual loss due to orbital fracture is controversial. Some authors advocate emergency optic nerve decompression; others recommend steroid therapy alone. We present a case of nearly complete unilateral loss of vision after a lateral orbital fracture with compression of the optic nerve by bony fragments. Computed tomographic scanning of the orbit helped us to pinpoint the cause of visual compromise and also served as a guide in planning surgery. Large dosages of steroids, combined with early reduction of the fracture, resulted in substantial recovery of vision. This case illustrates the importance of precisely determining the nature of the injury and the cause of visual compromise. A protocol for management of these injuries is presented.     

Orbital decompression (author's transl)]

Decompression of the orbit for retro-orbital haematoma is not usually performed. On the other hand it is recommended when ophthalmoscopy shows impending thrombosis secondary to a massive orbital haematoma. In such cases both surgical decompression of the orbit and splitting of the optic nerve sheath should be done. The indications for the surgical exposure of the optic canal are: 1. When there is progressive change on perimetry of the visual fields; 2. When there is radiological evidence of narrowing of the optic canal; 3. When there is papilloedema. Because of the magnitude of the surgery it is only rarely utilized, and a conservative management is most frequently better.     

Optic nerve decompression in the comatose and conscious patients after trauma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of early optic nerve decompression in comatose and conscious patients with indirect traumatic optic neuropathy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 65 optic nerve decompressions. METHODS: The total collective of optic nerve decompressions comprised 65 patients treated within the period between February 1987 and December 1998. Thirteen of these 65 patients (average age, 32 y) were comatose and required critical care treatment, so visual acuity could not be measured. The indication for surgical decompression in all patients was based on the ophthalmological examination and the finding on computed tomography (CT) scan of a lesion inside the optic nerve canal or the orbit apex, respectively. RESULTS: In the comatose patients the time interval between trauma and surgery was 16.1+/-12.1 hours (mean +/- standard deviation). During the subsequent postoperative examinations (on average, 12.3 mo postoperatively) five patients showed a normal visual acuity (20/20), two patients a visual acuity of 20/30 and 20/50, and one a visual acuity of 20/200. Three patients (three eyes) remained amaurotic. Two patients died of the general and severe consequences of injury. The beneficial visual acuity results achieved within the group of comatose patients were equivalent to those achieved within the group of patients who were conscious during the preoperative examination. The success rate, defined as an improvement of three lines with a final visual acuity of at least 20/1000, was 57.7% versus 61.5%. CONCLUSION: The results confirm our concept of early decompression of the optic nerve, based on close interdisciplinary cooperation and the ophthalmological findings.     

Complications of endonasal surgery of the paranasal sinuses. Special anatomy, pathomechanisms, surgical management

Statistics show that there is no significant increase in complications in endonasal sinus surgery of the ethmoid or sphenoid as compared to paranasal or transantral procedures. Exact anatomical knowledge of the nasal cavity, the paranasal sinuses and related structures is essential for assessment and management in iatrogenic complications, which are divided in three groups, according to characteristic topographic implications: orbito-ocular, vascular, encephalomeningeal. Orbito-ocular complications are managed by decompression of the orbit using the paranasal approach. Direct lesions of the optic nerve in ethmoid- or sphenoid-sinus surgery are extremely rare and are due to an abnormal nervous course. Vascular complications in the branches of the external carotid artery require local procedures (e.g. transantral ligature of the sphenopalatine artery). In some cases an intra-arterial embolization using supra-selective angiography is more effective. Massive bleeding from lesions of the internal carotid artery is stopped by placement of a balloon catheter combined with a transfemoral intra-arterial digital subtraction technique. Iatrogenic dura defects in the frontal skull base can be managed easily once the lesion has been exactly and clearly localized. Adequate control of the frontobase including the orbit, optic nerve and related vascular and nervous structures is achieved by the extracranial subfrontal paranasal (Killian incision) approach, if endoscopic or endonasal microscopic repair is ineffective.     

经鼻内镜筛窦纸板进路眶内手术

目的 探讨经鼻内镜筛窦纸板进路手术治疗眶内各种疾病的可行性并确立临床处理的基本原则。方法 经鼻内镜进路眶内手术10例：眶内异物取出术4例，球后海绵状血管瘤切除术1例，眶内侵犯或转移的恶性肿瘤切除术5例。结果 眶内异物取出术3例,1例失败；球后海绵状血管瘤1例完整切除；鼻咽癌眶内转移1例手术切除＋放射治疗后随访4年无复发，视力恢复至0．6；其他眶内恶性肿瘤4例，手术后随访1－4年健在。10例手术后1例视力损伤，9例均保留原有视力，其中3例失明病例中2例视力有一定程度的恢复。结论 位于神经内侧的某些占位性病变可以经鼻内镜筛窦纸板进路完成。当代先进的放射治疗技术对眶内恶性肿瘤的保守性手术创造了条件。     

经鼻内镜筛窦纸板进路眶内手术

目的探讨经鼻内镜筛窦纸板进路手术治疗眶内各种疾病的可行性并确立临床处理的基本原则.方法经鼻内镜进路眶内手术10例眶内异物取出术4例、球后海绵状血管瘤切除术1例、眶内侵犯或转移的恶性肿瘤切除术5例.结果眶内异物取出术3例成功,1例失败;球后海绵状血管瘤1例完整切除;鼻咽癌眶内转移1例手术切除+放射治疗后随访4年无复发,视力恢复至0.6;其他眶内恶性肿瘤4例,手术后随访1～4年均健在.10例手术后1例视力损伤,9例均保留原有视力,其中3例失明病例中2例视力有一定程度的恢复.结论位于视神经内侧的某些占位性病变可以经鼻内镜筛窦纸板进路完成.当代先进的放射治疗技术为眶内恶性肿瘤的保守性手术创造了条件.     

Evulsion of the optic nerve, a diagnosis to be recognised!

INTRODUCTION: Evulsion of the optic nerve is a rare but serious injury. It occurs generally after an ocular contusion and may cause blindness. CASE: We report the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with a blunt ocular trauma after having been punched by her husband. Initial examination of the left eye was impossible due to a major palpebral oedema. A CT scan of the orbit revealed a thickened optic nerve. No improvement was noted. DISCUSSION: Optic nerve avulsion is often caused by sudden and forceful rotation of the eye with tearing of the optic nerve as its globe entry level. The diagnosis can be confirmed by examination of the ocular fundus or by medical imaging such as CT scan of the orbital cavity as in our case report. The prognosis is usually poor.     

Delayed optic nerve decompression for indirect optic nerve injury

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of delayed optic nerve decompression in traumatic optic nerve injury. STUDY DESIGN: Critical analysis of Proforma-based, prospectively accrued data of all cases with injury to surgery interval of greater than 2 weeks. METHODS: Thirty-five cases with a median injury to surgery interval of 56 days (range, 16-374 d). Surgical decompression was undertaken only in cases that continued to have poor vision after treatment with steroids in conventional doses (1 mg/kg prednisolone). Pre- and postoperative visual acuity measurements were converted to the logMAR scale of visual acuity and the percentage of visual improvement was calculated. RESULTS: Surgery was universally unrewarding in all 9 cases with persistent and complete blindness of greater than 2 weeks and no response to steroid therapy. Of the cases with some residual vision, 20 of 26 cases improved (mean percentage improvement, 41.0 +/- 5.7%). Cases were categorized on the basis of the injury to surgery interval into groups of 2 weeks to 2 months, 2 months to 4 months, and greater than 4 months. No significant difference was demonstrated in the probability or quantum of improvement in these groups (P =.97). CONCLUSIONS: Optic nerve decompression remains useful as a salvage procedure for conventional dose steroid failed cases of traumatic optic neuropathy. In cases that are not completely blind, vision can be improved even when surgery is undertaken a few months after the injury.     

Salvage optic nerve decompression for traumatic blindness under nasal endoscopy: risk and benefit analysis

Objectives: Transnasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression was recommended to treat traumatic optic neuropathy as an effectively adjunctive procedure. The aim of this study was to assess the risks and benefits of salvage surgical decompression for complete vision loss (no light detection) after failure of mega‐dose steroid therapy. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Two hospitals in Guangzhou and Nanjing, China. Participants: Forty‐two patients of traumatic optic neuropathy with complete vision loss and failed to improve after steroid therapy for at least 3 days. Main outcome measures: All patients were treated by transnasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression and received follow‐up for at least 6 month. Vision improvement and complications were evaluated. Results: Transnasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression was performed successfully in 40 patients and was incomplete in two patients due to bleeding. Vision improved in four of 42 patients (9.5%) of traumatic optic neuropathy with complete vision loss and failed steroid therapy. Complications and sequelae included severe bleeding (two cases), cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (one case), nasal polyps (seven cases), chronic sinusitis (four cases) and nasal synechia (17 cases). Conclusion: Transnasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression was recommended as a minimally invasive, safe procedure, but complications and sequelae of the surgery should not be neglected. Based on the risk and benefit analysis, we conclude that the very poor surgical outcomes of this series do not support endoscopic optic nerve decompression for traumatic blindness.     

眶-筛-蝶联合径路视神经减压术的临床应用

目的 :探讨提高视神经管内段损伤疗效的方法。方法 :采用眶 筛 蝶联合径路对 5 2例视神经管内段损伤进行减压术治疗 ,全程松解视神经。结果 :术后视力得到不同程度恢复者 2 2例 ,视力改善率为 42 .3%。其中继发性视力损伤 2 3例 ,视力提高者占 73.9% ;原发性视力损伤 2 9例 ,视力提高者占 17.2 %。随访 6个月 ,视力恢复至 0 .0 5～ 0 .6。结论 :眶 筛 蝶联合径路视神经减压术进路短 ,视野宽 ,便于操作 ;且解剖标志清楚 ,易定位 ,更安全 ,更适合筛、蝶窦发育不良 ,骨质增生者。     

鼻内镜鼻窦手术眼部并发症及其处理对策

目的 探讨鼻内镜鼻窦手术的眼部并发症可能的原因及处理经验,以期引起鼻内镜外科医生的重视.方法 收集作者收治的具有比较典型特征的鼻窦手术眼部并发症者22例8类.损伤类型分别为:纸样板损伤、眶内感染、额筛阻塞性囊肿、泪道损伤、眼外肌损伤、眶内出血、视神经损伤、眼底动脉栓塞等,并给予了相应处理.结果 单纯纸样板损伤9例中8例经保守治疗痊愈,眶纸样板损伤伴眶骨膜下感染1例和泪道损伤、额筛阻塞性囊肿各1例经鼻内镜手术痊愈.眼外肌损伤2例中1例经眼肌矫正术后除向健侧有轻微复视外,其他眼位无明显复视;另1例经眼肌矫正后仍有轻度复视.眶纸样板损伤致眶内出血1例痊愈,另1例眶内出血和1例眼底动脉栓塞导致的视力丧失无改善.视神经损伤6例(7侧)中1例(1侧)经视神经减压+眶尖减压视力恢复正常,另1侧及其余5例(5侧)无改善.结论 鼻内镜手术导致视神经损伤、眶内出血和眼底动脉栓塞导致的失明,治疗困难,预后极差;如果有残存视力,预后较好.     

鼻内镜术致失明的预防和处理（附3例报告）

目的：探讨鼻内镜术致失明的预防和处理。方法：报告3例慢性鼻窦炎和鼻息肉患者于鼻内镜手术中损伤眼部结构和碘仿凡士林纱条填塞后并发的失明及其处理方法。结果：3例中2例因鼻内镜手术时损伤同侧眶内壁纸板和眶内组织结构,术中1例眼球变形、失明,立即行眶内视神经探查和眼内肌修复;1例出现眶周肿胀、眼睑淤血和睑结膜水肿,术后2d失明,清除眶内血肿及行视神经减压术。另1例术中筛窦填塞立即失明,抽出填塞物视力恢复。术后3例患者静脉用大剂量抗生素、糖皮质激素和神经生长因子治疗4周。随访6个月1例视力正常;1例失明,眼球萎缩;1例光感。结论：鼻内镜手术损伤眶内容物和出血,是失明的原因;术前CT检查示后筛窦呈过度气化者,术中应注意视神经骨管是否缺损;确认眶纸板损伤者一般不宜行鼻腔填塞;术后视力下降明显者应立即行视神经减压。     

Craniofacial resection for large tumors of the paranasal sinuses

Large tumors of the paranasal sinuses can be removed thoroughly with a craniofacial approach that provides for good visualization. With this approach, some tumors previously considered inoperable may be removed and in some cases cured. We report three cases of tumors managed by means of a craniofacial procedure. One case involved an extensive inverting papilloma of the ethmoid sinus that invaded the orbit and coursed over the globe around the optic nerve. The second patient had a large squamous cell carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses that involved the cribriform plate, dura, and a portion of frontal lobe. The third case involved a meningioma that invaded the sphenoid wing, orbit, pterygomaxillary space, and infratemporal fossa. The craniofacial surgical technique and adjunctive therapies are discussed.     

鼻内镜下视神经减压术治疗外伤性视神经病72例

目的 探讨视神经减压术治疗外伤性视神经病的疗效。方法 对大剂量糖皮质激素冲击治疗无效的外伤性视神经病患者72例（73眼），采用鼻内镜下视神经减压术治疗。外伤至手术时间1～57d，其中≤3d15例，4—7d37例，8—10d9例，11—15d5例，16～30d5例，〉30d1例。术前视力：光感以上18眼；无光感55眼。结果 术后随访3个月-5年。73眼中46眼视力有不同程度的提高，总有效率63．01％。原无光感的55眼中，31眼视力有提高，有效率56．36％。有光感以上视力的18眼中，15眼视力有提高，有效率83．33％。术后全部患者术腔上皮化，术中无并发症发生。结论 经鼻内镜筛蝶窦入路视神经减压术进路简捷，损伤较小、疗效确切，且不遗留面部瘢痕，容易为患者所接受。对伤后时间较长、大剂量激素治疗无效、视力损伤严重的患者，手术仍有挽救视力的可能。     

Dumbbell-shaped cervical spinal neurilemmoma presenting as neck mass

Cervical neurilemmoma may originate from any nerve sheath tissue in the neck including the vagus nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, brachial plexus, sympathetic trunk and cervical spine. We report an unusual case of a dumbbell-shaped neurilemmoma arising from the cervical spinal roots in a patient who complained of having had a neck mass for several months. Computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dumbbell-shaped tumour extending from the C4 spinal level through the intervertebral foramen into the right parapharyngeal space. Decompression surgery was performed first via the cervical approach. Five months later, the patient received laminectomy and a complete tumour excision. The symptoms and signs were significantly relieved without neurological sequelae. No evidence of recurrence was noted after one-year follow up. This two-staged operation could offer an alternative surgical approach yielding ideal therapeutic results in such a rare disease.     

经鼻内镜治疗鼻眼相关疾病

目的探讨内镜鼻眼相关疾病的手术疗效。方法对2002年2月~2005年2月收治的30例鼻眼相关疾病进行鼻内镜手术治疗,其中慢性泪囊炎13例,额筛窦囊肿12例,外伤性视神经损伤3例,眶尖异物1例,鼻腔-筛窦-眼眶肿瘤1例。结果经6个月至2年的随访,慢性泪囊炎13例,治愈9例,好转3例,无效1例;鼻窦囊肿12例均治愈;外伤性视神经损伤3例,2例好转;眶尖异物1例,术中未能取出异物;鼻腔-筛窦-眼眶肿瘤1例治愈。结论内镜鼻眼相关外科手术,具有直视、术野清楚、损伤小、恢复快及面部无瘢痕等优点,能够同时处理鼻腔病变。     

The management of acute visual loss after sinus surgery--two cases of rhinogenic optic neuropathy

INTRODUCTION: Different causative mechanisms of ophthalmic complications during endonasal sinus surgery have been reported. Only a few cases of blindness caused by affections of the optic nerve due to inflammatory paranasal sinus disease have been described. OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory optic neuropathy shall be considered among the causative factors for amaurosis after sinus surgery. MATERIAL: We present two patients with dramatic visual decrease occurring two weeks after sinus surgery as a result of inflammatory posterior paranasal sinus disease. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our therapy including surgical intervention in form of orbital or optic nerve decompression accompanied by systemic steroids and antibiotic therapy resulted in a significant increase of visual acuity in one case and a complete restoration of vision in the other case. In these two cases surgical intervention in the described fashion along with systemic steroids and antibiotic therapy represented a successful therapeutical approach.     

Optic nerve decompression via the lateral facial approach

Two cases of visual loss after lateral orbital wall fracture are presented: one with retrobulbar hematoma and evidence of optic nerve compression who failed to respond to lateral canthotomy and high-dose corticosteroid administration, and the second with immediate, total blindness associated with fracture of the bony optic canal. In both, extradural decompression of the orbit and optic nerve was achieved through the lateral facial approach with partial return of visual acuity and without surgical complications. The role of orbital and optic nerve decompression in the management of patients with blindness following orbital trauma is controversial. Orbital decompression may be of value for cases of post-traumatic visual loss unresponsive to medical management. If optic nerve injury is suspected as the cause, the additional step of decompression of the optic nerve is a logical but unproven procedure. The indications for optic nerve decompression are not established and should be considered only within the context of the specific needs of the individual patient.     

颅鼻眶部骨性病变的手术治疗

目的根据病变累及部位将颅鼻眶部划分不同区域,并讨论手术入路的选择及手术技巧.方法自1998年1月至2004年8月收治74例颅鼻眶部骨性病变患者,按手术所需将颅鼻眶部划分成四部三区.根据不同部位的病变,选择不同的手术入路,在术中结合使用影像导航及鼻内镜技术.结果21例骨纤维结构不良患者,除早期1例失明外,术前视力高于0.1的术后视力恢复较好,术前视力低于0.1的术后视力稍有改善或基本维持术前状态.53例占位性病变其中病灶全切45例,约占84.9%,大部切除8例.术后无眼球内陷者.鼻塞均有好转.位于眶尖部的病灶切除后症状基本消失且无视神经损伤.结论选择避免面部切口的经颅入路可更好地显露手术野,使用术中影像导航及鼻内镜技术能提高全切率,减少血管神经的损伤.     

Spontaneous compressive orbital emphysema of rhinogenic origin

We report the case of a young patient who developed spontaneous compressive orbital emphysema after an attack of coughing. At admission the patient presented left proptosis, diplopia, vision impairment and headache. Computer tomography showed air in the lateral part of left orbit compressing the eyeball and the optic nerve medially. It also revealed a sphenoid bone dysplasia with hyperpneumatization of the left greater wing and with two dehiscences in its wall. It was very intriguing to discover that this sphenoid dysplasia and the flap of mucosa covering one dehiscence were causing a ball-valve effect, allowing air to enter but not leave the orbit. Endoscopic sinus surgery was successfully used to treat this case. Received: 3 April 2000 / Accepted: 5 September 2000