Decompression of the Optic Canal by the Transethmoidal Route*

Optic nerve trauma: Clinical, electrophysiological and histological remarks

“…Different recommandations have been given for the stage of the patient, the time of operation, and the operative route 4, 8, 12,27, 29, 30, 35, 37, 41M3, 47, 49, 51. Even in the most recent literature, the aetiology and therapy of these traumatic visual disturbances have been discussed with different results 2, 12, 13, ~8, 28,31,40,41,45. It appears possible that this is due not only to the clinical and morphological difficulties already mentioned but also to the fact that the traumatic aetiology is only a special example of vascular lesions of the visual pathways in connection with raised intracranial pressure.…”

“Round-the-Clock” Surgical Access to the Orbit

“…Thyroid eye disease and traumatic optic neuropathy not responding to steroids have been successfully treated with endoscopic endonasal orbital and optic nerve decompressions. [12][13][14][15][16][17] Reports of orbital tumors that have been biopsied, resected, or decompressed through an EEA have increased in the last few years. [18][19][20][21] The EEA is now a widely accepted approach for the resection of skull base tumors including anterior, middle, and posterior fossae intradural tumors.…”

Compressive Optic Nerve Lesions at the Optic Canal

“…41 d the internal carotid artery is identified by a localizing marker (white cross), which has been placed right on the artery (lower left) proving that the hyperdense structure within the intracranial canal is the ectatic vessel The intracanalicular portion of the optic nerve can be approached by different ways, depending on the location of the lesion. Lesions located exclusively at the medial wall of the optic canal can be reached by a transethmoidal approach (Niho et al 1970). The roof and the lateral wall may be inspected by a subfrontal or frontolateral extradural approach (Brihaye 1976;Housepian 1978;Schiirmann et al 1961).…”