title: Extracranial optic nerve decompression for traumatic optic neuropathy.
abstract: We examined 14 patients with acute, unilateral optic nerve injury after blunt head trauma. In each patient the optic canal was decompressed through an ipsilateral external ethmoidectomy. The patients also received treatment with dexamethasone during the perioperative period. There was no morbidity or mortality. Eleven of the 14 patients improved, including 3 of the 5 who could not perceive light preoperatively. Transethmoid-sphenoid optic canal decompression is a safe and effective treatment for indirect optic nerve trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lessell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Momose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery