Temporal fossa orbital decompression for treatment of disfiguring thyroid-related orbitopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a technique for treating disfiguring thyroid-related orbitopathy by bony decompression into the temporal fossa and to analyze results.


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative case series with description of a surgical technique.


METHODS
Thirty-three consecutive patients with disfiguring thyroid-related orbitopathy undergoing decompression into the temporal fossa with the described technique.


METHODS
Reduction in exophthalmos by removal of the lateral orbital wall and the greater sphenoid wing using an eyelid crease approach.


METHODS
Amount of reduction in exophthalmos after surgery and incidence of induced postoperative diplopia.


RESULTS
The average reduction in exophthalmos was 4.51 mm (range, 3-6 mm; standard deviation, +/-0.95 mm). New-onset postoperative diplopia was observed in 1 patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Bony decompression of the orbit into the temporal fossa via an eyelid crease approach is an effective treatment for disfigurement in patients with thyroid-related orbitopathy and no preoperative diplopia.
Chang
Eli L
EL
Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Plastic, Orbital & Reconstructive Surgery, Doheny Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
Piva
Alfio P
AP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed