title: Does decompression diminish the discomfort of severe dysthyroid orbitopathy?
abstract: We assessed whether patients perceived that surgical decompression had reduced the discomfort of dysthyroid orbitopathy. Standard pain instruments were administered to 13 consecutive patients of a university-based oculoplastic practice who had undergone two-wall orbital decompression for dysthyroid optic neuropathy. We used visual analog scale (VAS) ratings of pre- and postoperative orbital discomfort. On a 0 to 10 scale, relief of discomfort after decompression was rated as moderate or better (VAS > 9.0) in 13 of 13 patients (mean VAS = 9.22, SD = 0.91) and complete (VAS = 10.0) in 8 of 13. Patients perceived that surgical decompression was associated with a clinically and statistically significant (p < 0.001) reduction of discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kansas University School of Medicine, Kansas City 66103, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Doane
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Whitacre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009915:Orbit / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology