[Orbital decompression for thyroid orbitopathy]

Thyroid orbitopathy may result in significant proptosis that causes visual lost. Besides pharmacologic and radiotherapeutic procedures surgically decompression of the orbital skeleton occasionally is managed. We present series of 3 patients (5 procedures) who underwent orbital decompressions. The preoperative proptosis ranged from 22 to 31mm. Decompression was performed by an external Walsh-Ogura approach in 3 orbits and in 2 by an endoscopic approach. The reduction in proptosis was 4-6mm in external approach cases and 4-5mm in endoscopic procedures. Diplopia was noted in 2 patients preoperatively, and no one had new postoperative diplopia. Surgical orbital decompression is occasionally necessary procedure or visual lost rescue in thyroid orbitopathy and in cases of diplopia can not improve muscular function. Endoscopic surgery is a safe and effective management in moderate proptosis. Autoimmunologic inflammatory changes in nasal mucosa do not increase postoperative complication risk.