title: Course of proptosis in patients with Graves' disease after endoscopic orbital decompression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results of follow-up and postoperative course of proptosis in patients with Graves' disease who underwent combined transconjunctival and transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of patients with Graves' disease who underwent orbital decompression using combined transconjunctival and transnasal endoscopic technique were reviewed. The surgical technique involved preservation of the strut of bone between the lamina papyracea of the ethmoid and floor of the orbit of the maxilla. Data pertaining to patient demographics, previous treatments for orbital manifestations of Graves' disease, and preoperative and postoperative otolaryngologic and ophthalmologic examination findings were obtained. Postoperative course of reduction in proptosis was evaluated based on Hertel exophthalmometry measurements obtained in four intervals: 1) 0 to 1 month, 2) 1 month to 3 months, 3) 3 to 6 months, 4) 6 to 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight orbital decompressions were performed on 15 patients. All patients were unresponsive to corticosteroids and orbital irradiation. Ten orbits exhibited preoperative and postoperative visual acuity of 20/20. Vision improved in nine orbits and did not change in six orbits. Proptosis was reduced in 25 orbits. Postoperative course of reduction in proptosis varied within year 1, with the smallest proptosis measurements documented between 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined transconjunctival and transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression with preservation of the strut resulted in regression of proptosis, marked reduction in postoperative diplopia development, and improvement of visual acuity in patients with Graves' disease. Course of reduction in proptosis varied within postoperative 1 year, with the biggest reduction occurring between 6 and 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ulualp
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Toohill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D018450:Disease Progression; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology