Orbitadekompression

Abstract

Orbital decompression is an effective surgical procedure to reduce intraorbital pressure. Causes may diseases leading to rapid pressure increases, e. g., bleedings, and those causing slower, progressive pressure increases, e. g., tumors or Graves' orbitopathy. During fat tissue decompression, peri- and retrobulbar adipose tissue is removed; in bony decompression, one or more bony orbital walls are removed (one-, two-, or three-wall decompression). In many cases the procedures are combined. Recent developments are the transconjunctival approaches for removing parts of bony orbital walls. Complications include double vision, which occurs in up to 30% of cases depending on the approach, hemorrhage, infections, development of chronic sinusitis, and iatrogenic skull base lesions with consecutive meningitis. In the hands of an experienced rhino- and head and neck surgeon, the intervention has low complication rates.