title: Protracted posttraumatic optic disc swelling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Optic disc swelling is a rare sequela of blunt ocular trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors examined three young patients who had an unusual post-traumatic optic neuropathy in which protracted swelling of the optic nerve head was the salient clinical feature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Associated choroidal ruptures in two patients suggested a contrecoup mechanism of injury to the optic nerve at its junction with the globe. All patients had partial recovery of vision over months, concurrent with resolution of the nerve head swelling and development of optic disc pallor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite its protracted course, posttraumatic optic disc swelling appears to be associated with a favorable prognosis for visual recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wald
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Weiter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002829:Choroid / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries; D010211:Papilledema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012421:Rupture; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology