Traumatic chiasmal syndrome: A meta-analysis

To report a case presenting with bitemporal hemianopia due to traumatic chiasmal syndrome after head injury, and to compare the findings with individual case reports published in the literature.

A detailed search was made in PubMed, MedIND, Taylor and Francis online and Wiley online library databases for individual case reports of traumatic chiasmal syndrome. All the case reports were read in full and the findings summarized in a table, which included details of the case who presented with bitemporal hemianopia as an index case.

All published cases of traumatic chiasmal syndrome appear to share some common features, such as injury to the frontal bone and fracture of the anterior skull base. Bitemporal hemianopia and visual acuity have a variable presentation, and do not appear to correlate with severity of injury. Isolated bitemporal hemianopia is rare and clinical improvement may or may not occur.

Traumatic chiasmal syndrome should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with bitemporal hemianopia after head injury causing frontal and anterior skull base fracture.