title: [Traumatic optic neuropathy].
abstract: Traumatic optic neuropathy is a severe complication of a head or face trauma. Diagnosis is established by analyzing pupillary responses to light. Fundus examination and orbital CT scan help to localize the site of the lesion and may show a fracture involving the optic canal. Surgical decompression or megadose steroids are therapeutic options. No therapeutic approach has proven with sufficient evidence to be effective. Spontaneous improvement is definitely possible. Based on experiences in single cases direct compression of the optic nerve by bone fragments or optic nerve sheath haemorrhage are as a rule treated surgically. In all other cases usually high dose steroids are given without proven effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department for Augenheilkunde, Universität Tübingen, Augenklinik, Tubingen. helmut.wilhelm@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011681:Pupil Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016202:N-Methylaspartate