[Sequel thyroid-associated ophtalmopathy]

[One step surgery for severe African endocrine exophtalmia: clinical case]

INTRODUCTION

The association hyperthyroidism-exophtalmia is pathognomonic of the Graves disease. Classically, the treatment is based on a pluridisciplinary step-by-step approach with a precise chronology. In some African places, these optimal conditions are not present. When confronted to such particular situations, it can be proposed to treat surgically at the same time the endocrine disease and the ophthalmologic complications.

OBSERVATION

The authors report the case of a 42-year-old women suffering of a great thyreotoxic goiter with severe bilateral exophtalmia, treated by thyroidectomy and orbital decompression in the same session with a good result after 18 months.

DISCUSSION

This non-conventional approach can be useful in particular situations when the medical environment is not optimal. It permits the radical treatment of their disease and improves the prognosis of patients with poor capacities for survey.

[Reoperation after orbital decompression for Graves' ophthalmopathy]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of our study was to report the incidence of complications requiring early or late reoperation after bone and fat orbital decompression for Graves's ophthalmopathy.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

We conducted a retrospective bicentric study in the Maxillofacial Surgery Departments of Marseille and Lyon. Ninety patients were selected from 2006 to 2010, accounting for 168 orbital decompressions. The surgical indication was morphological and functional for all patients. Several surgical techniques were used: bone and fat orbital decompression by trans-palpebral resection, two or three wall orbital decompression, malar valgization.

RESULTS

Ten patients were reoperated for 12 revisions, two patients needed two revisions. There were four early revisions for two retro-orbital hematoma, one inadequate orbital decompression with persistent posterior compressive optic neuropathy, and one recurrent maxillary sinusitis with proptosis. The other eight revisions were carried out later for three cases of insufficient correction, four cases of proptosis relapse, and one for excessive correction with enophthalmos. All patients had satisfactory morphological and functional results despite revision surgery.

DISCUSSION

Most reoperations are difficult to anticipate and their prevention is based on more or less specific recommendations. Patients should be informed of the risks and benefits and accept the possibility of reoperation. A systematic multidisciplinary consultation would standardize and improve the management of these patients, by detecting patients at risk of complications and thus reoperation.