Increase in orbital volume obtained by decompression in dried skulls

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurosurgery
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Orbital decompression is a surgical procedure to increase orbital volume.
• Various techniques exist, but their volumetric impact is not fully quantified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the volumetric changes in the orbit resulting from common orbital decompression techniques.
• To compare the effectiveness of different bone removal strategies.

Main Methods:

• Four orbits underwent partial or total removal of the medial wall, floor, or lateral wall.
• Orbital volume increases were measured after each decompression technique.

Main Results:

• Medial wall removal alone added 6 cc.
• Floor removal (preserving lateral bone) added 7 cc.
• Combined medial wall and floor removal yielded 13-14 cc.
• Maximum volume gain was 15 cc with complete medial wall and floor removal.

Conclusions:

• The medial wall and orbital floor contribute most significantly to orbital volume.
• Effective lateral decompression may require temporal fossa intervention.
• Maximal orbital decompression is achieved by removing the entire medial wall and orbital floor.