Vol.102 No.6 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 102 No. 6 June 2009
Optic Nerve Decompression for Traumatic Blindness: A Report of Two Cases
Shirou Kosaka, Suetaka Nishiike, Masako Uno,
Teruhito Aihara, Takeshi Akisada and Tamotsu Harada
(Kawasaki Medical School)
We treated 2 patients with traumatic optic neuropathy showing complete loss of vision. The optic nerve was decompressed by the endoscopic endonasal approach. Visual improvement was achieved in both patients. Endoscopic optic nerve decompression is a minimally invasive procedure that has no adverse cosmetic effects. This endoscopic technique offers several advantages over other surgical approaches. Immediate surgery is preferable for traumatic optic neuropathy, but the improvement of vision is possible even in cases with delayed surgery or with indefinite optic canal fracture. In surgery, frontal sinus seekers are useful for the removal of a thin bony wall, and a diamond drill burr for dacryocystorhinostomy is useful for the removal of a thick bony wall.
Key words :complete loss of vision, visual improvement, endoscopic optic nerve decompression