Optic nerve injury in preoperative imaging is associated with visual improvement outcome in endoscopic optic nerve decompression

Feasibility of navigation-assisted endoscopic transnasal optic nerve decompression for the treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy in patients with midfacial fractures

Objectives

Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON), a relatively rare condition, can cause visual functional impairment and permanent functional damage. Surgeons should be familiar with its diagnostic criteria and treatment to effectively manage cases of facial trauma with TON. We investigated the feasibility of navigation-assisted endoscopic trans-nasal optic nerve decompression (ETOND) to treat TON in maxillofacial trauma patients. Patients and.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from the clinical investigation of four consecutive patients, two males and two females with an average age of 75 years, with midfacial fractures and TON between April 2021 and September 2023. All patients had swelling and subcutaneous periorbital hemorrhage accompanied by optic nerve canal and zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures on the affected side. Three patients had lacerations on the lateral eyebrow or upper eyelid. All patients were evaluated by an ophthalmologist for visual impairment; two patients could see hand motion at a 30 cm distance, one patient could perceive light, and one did not have any loss of visual acuity. Among the four patients, three had visual impairment immediately after the injury, and one showed delayed impairment.

Results

The patients were treated with navigation-assisted ETOND conducted by an endoscopic rhinologist. Three of the ETONDs were performed along with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF); the other ETOND was delayed. Orbital reconstruction was performed in three patients. Steroid therapy was administered to two patients, one pre-operatively and one post-operatively. The two patients with pre-operative vision loss showed improved visual acuity post-operatively, and the two patients with no pre-operative visual impairment had no vision loss associated with ORIF for their midfacial fractures. No patient had post-operative complications.

Conclusion

Navigation-assisted ETOND can be performed easily by endoscopic rhinologists; and prompt examination, diagnosis, and treatment are important in patients with facial trauma and TON.

Endoscopic endonasal optic nerve decompression: treatment of fibrous dysplasia in a pediatric population

OBJECTIVE

Patients with fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the anterior skull base can experience progressive visual loss and impairment. The authors reviewed their experience with endonasal decompression of the optic nerve (ON) in this patient population. Endoscopic ON decompression (EOND) is a feasible surgical approach for children with FD and visual deficit due to structural ON compression.

METHODS

Electronic medical records of children between 1 and 17 years of age with unilateral FD of the anterior skull base and concomitant ON compression, who required EOND between 2017 and 2022 (n = 4), were reviewed for demographic data, both pre- and postoperative imaging, and evaluations by an otolaryngologist, neurosurgeon, and ophthalmologist in a multidisciplinary fashion.

RESULTS

EOND was found to be a safe and effective surgery for children with FD. Visual acuity was stable in 80% of the eyes postoperatively. Visual fields improved in 40% of the eyes and remained stable in the rest.

CONCLUSIONS

EOND is beneficial for progressive optic neuropathy that is unresponsive to steroid therapy and can prevent permanent disability if performed prior to irreversible damage to the nerve. EOND can decompress the edematous ON with proper exposure of the optic canal and orbital apex, without any major complications.