"Balanced" orbital decompression for severe Graves' orbitopathy: technique with treatment algorithm. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Graves' orbitopathy can produce proptosis, compressive optic neuropathy, and extraocular motility abnormalities; symptoms result from an increase in orbital volume due to expansion of intraorbital fat, with or without extraocular muscle involvement. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a chart review of patients who underwent orbital decompression to treat Graves' orbitopathy. Twenty-two orbits (13 patients) underwent orbital bone decompression, of which 17 orbits (9 patients) underwent the combined medial and lateral "balanced" decompression. RESULTS: All patients had significant improvement with an average decrease in proptosis of 5.9 mm in the balanced decompression group. Restoration of normal optic nerve function was achieved in all patients with compressive optic neuropathy. Diplopia was noted in 4 patients (30.7%) preoperatively. Two patients had new postoperative diplopia (15.35%). CONCLUSION: In our experience, "balanced" decompression results in a reduction of proptosis and improved optic nerve function and has a low incidence of complications.

publication date

  • February 1, 2003

Research

keywords

  • Algorithms
  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Graves Disease
  • Orbit

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0037295312

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1067/mhn.2003.61

PubMed ID

  • 12601319

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 128

issue

  • 2