Objective: To observe the visual outcome of traumatic optic neuropathy treated with optic canal decompression surgery and medication.
Method: 15 patients, suffering from traumatic optic neuropathy, had received medication and optic canal decompression surgery through the approach of ethmoid and sphenoid sinus. The vision acuity was divided into 5 grades: no light perception, light perception, finger movement, counting fingers, vision > or = 0.1, the vision acuity improvements reaching 2 grades or more were determined as effective. All patients were followed up for intervals of 1 month and 6 months.
Result: The total efficient rate is 57.4%, no intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered. Being followed up 6 months, 2 cases, who underwent respectively the operation 8, 11 days after trauma, felt no light perception.
Conclusion: The approach through ethmoid and sphenoid sinus have the merits such as safety, less damage and larger operative field. Timely medication, megacorticosteroid therapy mainly, may play a good role in alleviating optic nerve edema and restoring its function. Comprehensive therapy may be an ideal treatment to traumatic optic neuropathy.