Modified lateral orbital wall decompression in Graves’ orbitopathy using computer-assisted planning

Effect of the lateral wall valgisation in the treatment of patients with endocrine orbitopathy

Orbital decompression is an established procedure used to correct exophthalmos that results from excess orbital soft tissue. This study aimed to explore a new minimally-invasive technique that features three-dimensional planning and patient-specific implants for lateral valgisation (LAVA) of the orbital wall. We analysed the outcomes of this procedure in nine endocrine orbitopathy (EO) patients (32-65 years of age with a mean clinical activity score of 4.3) who underwent this procedure between 2021 and 2022, including seven patients diagnosed with dysthyroid optic neuropathy. The impact of LAVA and wall resection on orbital areas, volumes, Hertel values, visual acuity, and new-onset diplopia was determined. Among our results, we found that LAVA and resection of 18 orbital walls resulted in significant enlargement of the orbital volume from a preoperative mean of 30.8 ± 3.5 cm³ to a mean of 37.3 ± 5.8 cm³ postoperatively (mean difference, 6.2 ± 1.8 cm³; p < 0.001); this procedure also resulted in a significant reduction in the mean Hertel value, from 28.7 ± 1.9 mm to 20.0 ± 1.9 mm (mean difference, 8.7 ± 1.9 mm; p < 0.001). The procedure resulted in visual acuity declined in three patients (33.3 %) with reductions from 0.25 to 0.125, 0.8 to 0.125, and 1.2 to 0.7, respectively. No new diplopia occurred postoperatively, however, our study included five patients with preoperative diplopia that did not improve postoperatively and required additional surgical intervention. Similarly, four patients required supplemental eyelid surgery. In conclusion, our study suggests the effects of the LAVA with the partial floor resection seems to be effective, which provides a substantially improved outcome for patients undergoing surgical treatment of EO via the use of double navigation and piezosurgical methods.

Endoscope-navigation-assisted orbital decompression for graves' orbitopathy

PURPOSE

To compare the surgical outcomes of endoscope-navigation (EN)-assisted orbital decompression and non-EN-assisted orbital decompression for Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and to assess the potential clinical advantage of EN in orbital decompression surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was performed on 227 orbits of 147 GO patients who underwent EN-assisted orbital decompression (185 orbits) or non-EN-assisted orbital decompression (42 orbits). Assessment included proptosis reduction, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), diplopia, ocular restriction and surgical complications.

RESULTS

The proptosis reduction in the EN group was 0.9 mm greater than that in the non-EN group in the entire cohort (p  =  0.004) and 1.0 mm greater than that in the non-EN group in the propensity score matching cohort (p  =  0.025) at 2 years postoperatively. In all, 78.2% of orbits with sight-threatening GO in the EN group and 52.6% of orbits in the non-EN group showed BCVA improvement (p  =  0.026). The proportion of patients with improvement in diplopia was significantly greater in the EN group than in the non-EN group (p  =  0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

EN offers anatomical localization and deep-seated tissue visualization in orbital decompression and significantly improves the surgical outcomes for GO.

Consideration of specific key points improves outcome of decompression treatment in patients with endocrine orbitopathy: pre-/post-OP comparison and biomechanical simulation

Endocrine orbitopathy is typically treated by resecting orbital walls. This procedure reduces intraorbital pressure by releasing intraorbital tissue, effectively alleviating the symptoms. However, selection of an appropriate surgical plan for treatment of endocrine orbitopathy requires careful consideration because predicting the effects of one-, two-, or three-wall resections on the release of orbital tissues is difficult. Here, based on our experience, we describe two specific orbital sites (’key points’) that may significantly improve decompression results. Methodological framework of this work is mainly based on comparative analysis pre- and post-surgery tomographic images as well as image- and physics-based simulation of soft tissue outcome using the finite element modelling of mechanical soft tissue behaviour. Thereby, the optimal set of unknown modelling parameters was obtained iteratively from the minimum difference between model predictions and post-surgery ground truth data. This report presents a pre-/post-surgery study indicating a crucial role of these particular key points in improving the post-surgery outcome of decompression treatment of endocrine orbitopathy which was also supported by 3D biomechanical simulation of alternative two-wall resection plans. In particular, our experimental results show a nearly linear relationship between the resection area and amount of tissue released in the extraorbital space. However, a disproportionately higher volume of orbital outflow could be achieved under consideration of the two special key points. Our study demonstrates the importance of considering natural biomechanical obstacles to improved outcomes in two-wall resection treatment of endocrine orbitopathy. Further investigations of alternative surgery scenarios and post-surgery data are required to generalize the insights of this feasibility study.

Ultrasonic instruments in orbital surgery: a major review

PURPOSE

Ultrasonic instrumentation has recently emerged as an important modality in orbital surgery. This review was designed to assess the current literature and potential advantages of this technology.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed to identify relevant articles. These manuscripts were reviewed, and their data was abstracted.

RESULTS

Three variants of ultrasonic devices are gaining popularity in orbital surgery, including piezoelectric saws, the cavitron system, and ultrasonic bone aspirators and curettes. Previous manuscripts have described a variety of uses for these technologies, and the purported benefits include enhanced intraoperative visualization, improved facility in tight spaces, less damage to the surrounding parenchyma and vasculature, and excellent intraoperative dissection.

CONCLUSIONS

The emerging body of literature strongly supports the use of these devices in orbital surgery, and these instruments carry the promise of providing smoother, more precise, safer surgery.

Deep lateral orbital decompression for Graves orbitopathy: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To systematically review the literature on the deep lateral orbital decompression (DLD).

METHODS

The authors searched the MEDLINE, Lilac, Scopus, and EMBASE databases for all articles in English, Spanish, and French that used as keywords the terms orbital decompression and lateral wall. Two articles in German were also included. Data retrieved included the number of patients and orbits operated, types of the approach employed, exophthalmometric and horizontal eye position changes, and complications. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the mean Hertel changes induced by the surgery were calculated from series with 15 or more data.

RESULTS

Of the 204 publications initially retrieved, 131 were included. Detailed surgical techniques were analyzed from 59 articles representing 4559 procedures of 2705 patients. In 45.8% of the reports, the orbits were decompressed ab-interno. Ab-externo and rim-off techniques were used in 25.4% and 28.8% of the orbits, respectively. Mean and 95% CI intervals of Hertel changes, pooled from 15 articles, indicate that the effect of the surgery is not related to the technique and ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 mm. The rate of new onset of diplopia varied from zero to 8.6%. Several complications have been reported including dry eye, oscillopsia, temporal howling, lateral rectus damage, and bleeding. Unilateral amaurosis and subdural hematoma have been described in only one patients each.

CONCLUSIONS

The low rate of new-onset diplopia is the main benefit of DLD. Prospective studies are needed to compare the rate of complications induced by the 3 main surgical techniques used.

Deep Lateral Wall Partial Rim-Sparing Orbital Decompression with Ultrasonic Bone Removal for Treatment of Thyroid-Related Orbitopathy

Purpose

To describe the results of thyroid-related orbitopathy (TRO) treated by ultrasonic deep lateral wall bony decompression with partial rim sparing (DLW-PRS).

Methods

A review was carried out, from January 2015 to September 2017, of all patients treated with ultrasonic DLW-PRS decompression using a SONOPET® (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) ultrasonic aspirator, using a lateral, small triangle flap incision for access. The primary outcome was the change in proptosis (measured by the difference in Hertel exophthalmometry measurements). Other secondary outcomes were changes in visual acuity (VA) (using Snellen scale, decimal fraction), presence of lagophthalmos, eyelid retraction (measured by upper eyelid margin distance to the corneal reflex (MRD₁) and lower eyelid margin distance to the corneal reflex (MRD₂), and presence of exposure keratopathy).

Results

A total of 58 orbital decompressions in 35 patients were reviewed, with 23 patients (65.7%) having bilateral decompressions. There was a female preponderance with 26 patients (74.2%), and the mean age ± standard deviation was 52.6 ± 13.9 years. Mean proptosis was 24.51 ± 1.76 mm preoperatively, reduced to 19.61 ± 1.27 mm in final follow-up. The mean reduction was 4.9 ± 1.54 mm. VA improved from 0.8 ± 0.14 to 0.9 ± 0.12, p=0.039. 5 of 13 patients (38.4%) with preoperative diplopia reported improvement or complete resolution after surgery. MRD₁ was reduced from 5.25 ± 0.88 mm to 4.49 ± 0.7 mm. MRD₂ was also reduced from 6.3 ± 0.88 mm to 5.0 ± 0.17 mm. Presence of lagophthalmos was reduced from 35 eyes (60.3%) to five (8.6%); the presence of epiphora was also reduced from 20 patients (57.1%) to 3 (8.5%) following decompression. Complications of the surgery included zygomatic hypoaesthesia in 14 (40%) patients in the early postoperative period and chewing alterations in 10 (28.5%) of the patients. All of these complications were resolved at the 6-month follow-up visit. We noted no surgical complications such as ocular or soft tissue damage, infection, inflammation, or visual loss.

Conclusions

The SONOPET® ultrasonic bone curette can be used safely and effectively for DLW orbital decompression surgery. The main benefits were good visualization and handling of tissues and speed and ease of use of the equipment. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04025034.

Current Strategies in Post-traumatic Orbital Reconstruction

Posttraumatic orbital reconstruction is one of the most fascinating fields in reconstructive craniomaxillofacial surgery. Hardly any other field in craniomaxillofacial surgery has changed so much in terms of diagnostics, biomaterial selection for reconstruction, surgical techniques including approaches and quality control. In particular, in the field of reconstructive orbital surgery all advances in modern medical treatment are summarized and represented. Reconstructive orbital surgery thus became the medical field spearheading all reconstructive surgical specialties in terms of use of DICOM-data, computer assistance, change towards patient-specific solutions and establishing digital workflows for adequate quality control during all phases of treatment, i.e. pre-, intra- and postoperative. With this paper, this evolutionary process shall be demonstrated as well as display the spirit of change that was necessary to optimize reconstructive orbital surgery and to improve medical care in all areas of reconstruction. Finally, reconstructive orbital surgery could prove to be a highly foreseeable field nowadays, thus giving the next generation of CMF-surgeons a huge opportunity to drive this topic further into the future.