Optic nerve compression analyzed by using plastination

Plastination is an excellent tool for studying different anatomical and clinical questions. The E12 technique provides transparent slices which show the anatomical structures in their initial position, especially those of the muscular, vascular and interstitial tissue. Here we demonstrate on a plastinated specimen optic nerve compression due to hypertrophy and degeneration of the extraocular muscles near the apex of the orbit. The paper aims to demonstrate the possibilities offered by the E12 plastination technique in analyzing anatomical structures. The plastinated slices obtained were scanned and then analyzed. In a further step the plastinated slices were cut into thin slices (150 microm), stained and finally examined histologically. We measured the intraorbital length (A-B), which had an average value of 25,93+/-0,03 mm. Dividing the optic nerve into uncompressed (UP) and compressed (CP) parts, we obtained the following values for optic nerve width: UP=4192+/-0,455 mm, CP=3215+/- 0,411 mm. Using the E12 plastination method we were able to take morphometric measurements on plastinated orbital slices with coincidentally detected optic nerve compression. This allowed the determination of different parameters of the optic nerve, as well as histological examination by hematoxylin and eosin staining up to a magnification of x40.