Surgical treatment of diplopia caused by fractures of the orbital floor

Oculomotor disturbance resulting from orbital floor fractures have different etiologic factors, sometimes damage of one of the ocular motor nerves, caused by direct injury to the orbit; this damage occurs also to one or more of the extrinsic ocular muscles, especially the obliques; frequently, the diplopia is caused by prolapsed orbital tissues with or without muscle entrapment or by a muscle fibrosis; when the diplopia appears after orbital floor reconstruction there is often a palsy of the inferior rectus muscle in front of silicone implant or bone graft on the orbital floor. In oculomotor disturbance after orbital floor fracture, the first stage will be to recognize the mechanism of the diplopia by a clinical examination, motility in the nine positions, Hess Charts, binocular vision and field, forced duction, radiography and sometimes coronal computed tomography which also allow visualization of soft tissues densities, including all extraocular muscles. If there is an indication of orbital surgery, it will be done always in first; oculomotor surgery will be done if necessary at the second stage, if there is a permanent diplopia without evolution during six months. The purpose of the treatment is to obtain orthophoria in primary position and in down gaze. A series of cases of fracture of the orbital floor with resulting diplopia are described. The method, the time, and the indications of orbital or oculomotor surgery are discussed according the variety of cases.     

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the extraocular muscles and nerves demonstrates various etiologies of third nerve palsy

PURPOSE: The etiology of third nerve palsy is usually diagnosed by history, motility examination, and presence of lid and pupil involvement, as well as cranial and vascular imaging. We used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (hrMRI) of the oculomotor nerve and affected extraocular muscles (EOMs) to investigate oculomotor palsy. DESIGN: Prospective, noncomparative, observational case series in an academic referral setting. METHODS: Twelve patients with nonaneurysmal oculomotor palsy of 0.75 to 252 months' duration were studied. In the orbit and along the intracranial oculomotor nerve, hrMRI at 1- to 2-mm thickness was performed. Coronal plane images of each orbit were obtained in multiple, controlled gaze positions. Structural abnormalities of the oculomotor nerve and associated changes in EOM volume and contractility were evaluated. RESULTS: Cases were categorized as tumor related, congenital, diabetic, traumatic, and idiopathic according to clinical characteristics and hrMRI findings. Reduction of volume and contractility of affected EOMs were noted in six patients; however, there was no marked EOMs atrophy in two cases of diabetic oculomotor palsy, and there were four cases of aberrant regeneration. hrMRI demonstrated the oculomotor nerve at the midbrain and at EOMs in all cases, and in two cases with previous normal neuroimaging elsewhere that demonstrated contrast-enhancing tumors on the oculomotor nerve. One patient with apparently unilateral congenital inferior division oculomotor palsy had no detectable ipsilateral and a hypoplastic contralateral oculomotor nerve exiting the midbrain. CONCLUSIONS: hrMRI provides valuable information in patients with oculomotor palsy, such as structural abnormalities of the orbit and oculomotor nerve, and atrophy and diminished contractility of innervated EOMs. This information could be helpful in diagnosis and management of oculomotor palsy.     

医学影像学在诊断以眼部为首发表现的全身病中的作用

现代医学影像技术在诊断眼部疾病中发挥着重要作用,同时亦能通过眼部影像学表现推测病变是否源于颅内或是全身系统性疾病。良性颅内压增高多以视力损害为首发症状,眼眶或颅脑MRI征象中包括空蝶鞍（79%）、视神经周围蛛网膜下腔增宽（74%）、视乳头隆起（56%）等。MRI和CT检查可以及时发现视网膜母细胞瘤球外侵犯以及远处转移的病变,为临床治疗提供依据。MRI能够发现动眼神经麻痹的大多数（71%）病因,且病变位置均在核团所在脑干及动眼神经在颅内走行行程中,少数位于颅眶沟通的眶上裂区。以眼部表现为首发症状的IgG4相关性疾病具有双侧泪腺肿胀及多发眼外肌增粗等特征性的影像表现,治疗前后生长抑素受体SPECT/CT显像在判断疾病的活动性及疗效评价的定量研究中具有较大应用价值。（眼科, 2015, 24： 289-291）     

Early treatment of secondary muscle restriction due to orbital blow-out fractures]

INTRODUCTION: Orbital blow-out fractures can result in chronic oculomotor restriction. This is the consequence of orbital fasciae or muscle trapped within the fracture. A delayed treatment usually results in incomplete repair. However, when the extrapped tissues are freed by reconstruction of the orbital floor, oculomotor sequelae can be prevented or at least limited. PATIENTS AND TREATMENT: Twelve adults and 2 children were treated for blow-out fracture in the past two years at the Eye Department of Geneva University Hospital. All of these patients had a non regressive oculomotor restriction, an enophthalmus and/or an infraorbital hypoesthesia with evidence of a blow-out fracture on the CT-scan. They were operated on between the second and the sixth week following trauma. Extrapped fasciae were freed under microscope and the orbital floor was reconstructed with a thin plate of biomaterial (PDS). RESULTS: Tissues could be entirely removed and kept separated from the underlying structures by the biomaterial used for reconstruction. Ocular motility returned to normal in 13 cases within 1 to 3 months, without further intervention. Only one patient had to wear a low grade prism with vertical action. DISCUSSION: In case of blow-out fractures, the long term prognosis of the ocular motility depends on immediate management following the trauma. Orbital floor reconstruction is indicated when consecutive oculomotor restriction is likely avoiding in the majority of the cases any residual oculomotor restriction. On the contrary when delayed, treatment is often difficult generally with limited mobility. CONCLUSION: From an ophthalmological point of view, microsurgical extraction of incarcerated orbital fasciae and reconstruction of the orbital floor is indicated for early treatment of oculomotor restriction.     

Prolongation of latency of horizontal saccades in elderly is distance and task specific

The present study examined horizontal saccades in healthy subjects: 9 adults (20-32 years) and 10 aged subjects (63-83 years), under gap (fixation target extinguishes prior to target onset) and overlap (fixation stays on after target onset). The gap paradigm is known to promote fast initiation of saccades while the overlap paradigm promotes voluntary saccades with longer latency. In real life we perform saccades at various distances. In this study each paradigm was run at three viewing distances-20, 40 and 150 cm, corresponding to a convergence angle of 17.1 degrees, 8.6 degrees and 2.3 degrees, respectively. Eye movements were recorded with the Chronos video eye tracker or with the photoelectric IRIS. The main findings are: (i) increase in latency of saccades with age, with distance and with the overlap condition; (ii) evidence for interaction between these factors, indicating the following anomaly: in the gap condition and at near, aged subjects show short latencies similar to those of young adults; (iii) express type of latencies (between 80 and 120 ms) occur most frequently at near in the gap condition and at similar rates in young (25%) and aged subjects (20%). The specificity of close distance combined with the gap for triggering short latency saccades could be related to both attention and oculomotor fixation disengagement. The strength of coupling between fixation-eye movement control and visual attention control varies for different locations in space, and its decline with aging can be also different.     

Sympathetic innervation of ciliary muscle and oculomotor function in emmetropic and myopic young adults

PURPOSE: Evidence exists for an additional inhibitory accommodative control system mediated by the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This work aims to show the relative prevalence of sympathetic inhibition in young emmetropic and myopic adults, and to evaluate the effect of sympathetic facility on accommodative and oculomotor function. METHODS: Profiling of ciliary muscle innervation was carried out in 58 young adult subjects (30 emmetropes, 14 early onset myopes, 14 late onset myopes) by examining post-task open-loop accommodation responses, recorded continuously by a modified open-view infrared optometer. Measurements of amplitude of accommodation, tonic accommodation, accommodative lag at near, AC/A ratio, and heterophoria at distance and near were made to establish a profile of oculomotor function. RESULTS: Evidence of sympathetic inhibitory facility in ciliary smooth muscle was observed in 27% of emmetropes, 21% of early-onset myopes and 29% of late-onset myopes. Twenty-six percent of all subjects demonstrated access to sympathetic facility. Closed-loop oculomotor function did not differ significantly between subjects with sympathetic facility, and those with sympathetic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Emmetropic and myopic groups cannot be distinguished in terms of the relative proportions having access to sympathetic inhibition. Presence of sympathetic innervation does not have a significant effect on accommodative function under closed-loop viewing conditions.     

Clinical course and prognosis of diplopias after orbital bony wall decompression for thyroid related orbitopathy

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess how oculomotor complications progress after orbital bony decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy and to assess the residual risk of consecutive diplopia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medial orbital wall and floor were decompressed by a transpalpebral approach in 77 patients (117 orbits). Indications for decompression were optic neuropathy in 22 patients, exposure of the cornea in 1 patient, and cosmetic rehabilitation in 54 patients. Occurrence of oculomotor disorder after surgery was noted and the clinical course after a one-year follow-up was studied. RESULTS: Diplopia was observed in 34 patients (44%): 18 of these patients were treated by external orbital radiotherapy before surgery. Diplopia decreased spontaneously over a period ranging from 15 days to 2 months or was treated by adequate prism in 22 cases. A higher degree of diplopia (12 to 30 diopters) was noted in 12 cases, requiring surgical care that was successful in all cases. This progress was especially observed in patients with optic neuropathy or in patients who had been previously treated with external orbital radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Prognosis of diplopia after bony wall decompression for thyroid-related orbitopathy can be favorable with spontaneous reduction, prism, or surgical treatment. Precise information should be given to the patients before surgery.     

Incarceration of the Inferior Oblique Muscle Branch of the Oculomotor Nerve in Two Cases of Orbital Floor Trapdoor Fracture

Background Incarceration of the inferior oblique muscle (IO) branch of the oculomotor nerve may occur in cases of orbital floor trapdoor fracture.Cases Two orbital floor trapdoor fracture cases, with lesions located just outside of the inferior rectus muscle but without its incarceration, were examined pre- and postoperatively for visual acuity, intraocular details, the nine diagnostic ocular positions of gaze, binocular single vision field with the Hess chart, and by computed tomography (CT). One case was also examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; T1-weighted images). A forced duction test was conducted intraoperatively.Observations Each case presented good visual acuity and neither globe showed any injury. Motility disturbance of the IO was shown in each case by binocular single vision field testing and the Hess chart. The possibility of the incarceration of the IO branch of the oculomotor nerve, which runs from the incarcerated lesion to the superior belly of the IO, in an orbital floor trapdoor fracture was shown on CT and MRI. Intraoperative forced duction testing revealed a restriction due to the incarceration of the connective tissue septa.Conclusions As inferred from the CT and MRI analyses conducted in this study, IO palsy may be one of the causes of ocular motility disturbance of the IO in an orbital floor trapdoor fracture, in addition to the ocular motility disturbance due to the connective tissue septa. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2005;49:246–252 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005     

Treatment of the postenucleation socket syndrome with a new hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate ceramic implant.

PURPOSE: Surgical correction of the postenucleation socket syndrome (PESS) is challenging. Various biomaterials are used for reconstruction of the anophthalmic orbit, often with unsatisfactory long-term results. Implants have been placed between the periorbital and the orbital floor. The authors describe a new material composed of hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate (HA-TCP) in the form of ceramic blocks, to be placed into the orbital fat as a new surgical site. METHODS: Ten patients with PESS underwent surgery to compensate the volume deficit of the anophthalmic orbit. Blocks of HA-TCP were created by fragmentation of a larger piece, tailored as needed, and implanted in the orbital fat. The patients were monitored regularly with clinical and radiologic examinations to evaluate the behavior of the implants. RESULTS: The volume of the HA-TCP was measured in 5 cases (mean, 2.95 +/- 1.08 ml). A significant reduction of enophthalmos was obtained: mean Hertel exophthalmometry measured 12.7 +/- 2.5 mm preoperatively and 14 +/- 2.4 mm postoperatively (p < 0.05). The average prosthesis volume was significantly reduced in the cases measured: 2.7 ml +/- 0.94 ml preoperatively and 1.8 +/- 0.7 ml postoperatively (p < 0.02). There was a negative correlation between the HA-TCP implant volume and postoperative prosthesis volume (correlation coefficient = -0.925; p < 0.05). According to photographic evaluation, correction of the enophthalmos and of the superior sulcus depression were obtained in 70% and 90% of cases, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging seems to demonstrate that the blocks become well integrated into the surrounding orbital tissue. CONCLUSION: The HA-TCP blocks correct some anomalies of PESS. Placement of the blocks directly into the orbital fat is a promising alternative to the traditional subperiosteal location.     

Expansion of the human microphthalmic orbit.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of long-term, incremental enlargement of an orbital tissue expander on bone and eyelid growth in microphthalmia. DESIGN: A prospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Five consecutive patients with microphthalmos treated with orbital expansion were evaluated. INTERVENTION: A tissue expander was placed into the orbits of five children (age, 10 months-6 years) with unilateral microphthalmos and gradually enlarged by saline injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The midorbital width of each patient was determined from axial computed tomographic scans before insertion of the device. The length of the normal and abnormal eyelid fissures was measured at surgery. The postexpansion dimensions of both the normal and microphthalmic orbits and the eyelids were remeasured when the expanders were removed. The residual deficits between the normal and the microphthalmic sides were expressed in percentages. RESULTS: Gradual inflation of the expander to a diameter of 22 mm reduced the average preoperative orbital dimension deficit of the group from 14.6% (range, 8%-25%) to 3.8% after surgery (range, 0.5%-6.3%). The average pre-expansion eyelid length deficit for the group was 17.5% (range, 12%-26%) compared to 2.3% (range, 0.0%-5.3%) after expansion. The average expansion period was 56.8 weeks (range, 20-100 weeks). Two outpatient surgical procedures were required in each patient. CONCLUSION: Incremental inflation of a tissue expander placed within the microphthalmic orbit induced sufficient osseous and eyelid growth to ameliorate the major stigmata of this syndrome in all patients treated.     

Attempts of orbit irradiation after enucleation of the eye with malignant choroidal melanoma. Part I

PURPOSE: The problem of orbit irradiation after enucleation of the eye with choroidal melanoma is controversial. We have decided to analyse our own material in order to estimate the effectiveness of this method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical material comprised 202 patients, 97 women and 105 men, in the age of 15-84 years, whose eyeballs were enucleated because of choroidal melanoma. In 72 patients the orbit was irradiated after enucleation with 60Co applicator (CKA4). The dose was about 50 Gy, 5 mm deep. The height of tumour, its location, histological type, infiltration of the sclera or beyond the eyeball and the treatment of tumour before enucleation were analysed. The follow-up time was 5-20 years. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The survival time of patients in the age below 30 years (p < 0.05) and of patients with choroidal melanoma of the height above 3 mm (p < 0.01) was significantly longer when the orbit was irradiated. Also the survival time of patients with scleral infiltration and with spindle-cell type of tumour was longer (but statistically not significantly) in those, whose orbits were irradiated after enucleation. Exenteration of the orbit was necessary in 4 cases not irradiated after enucleation, only in 1 case after irradiation. The probability of survival after irradiation of the orbit was significantly higher than in cases not irradiated (0.6971 vs. 0.6219). The estimated mean survival time (in months) was longer, but not significantly, in patients after irradiation of the orbit (197.017 vs. 181.409). We conclude that irradiation of the orbit after enucleation of the eye with choroidal melanoma should be recommended. Further investigations will be continued with collaboration of Institute of Oncology in Cracow.     

Sino-orbital fistula: two case reports

A fistula between the paranasal sinuses and the orbit as a late complication of orbital fractures is rare and may present with intermittent symptoms due to air passing into the orbit. A case note review of two patients with sino-orbital fistula is presented. Two patients, 23- and 30-year-old males, presented with intermittent symptoms of globe displacement, diplopia or discomfort months after repair of an orbital floor fracture with a synthetic orbital floor implant. The symptoms occurred after nose blowing. They were both cured by removal of the implant and partial removal of the tissue surrounding the implant. A sino-orbital fistula may complicate the otherwise routine repair of an orbital floor fracture, but may be cured by removal of the implant and part of the surrounding pseudocapsule.     

Visualization of the oculomotor cranial nerves by magnetic resonance imaging

MRI is the imaging method of choice in patients with cranial nerve palsies. However, the nerves are often not seen on MR images and smaller lesions may not be diagnosed on routine brain MRI. The purpose of this study is to show that the oculomotor cranial nerves can be visualized by standard MR sequences and to present an update on clinical applications of cranial nerve imaging. In MR images of normal subjects, it is demonstrated that the oculomotor nerve, the trochlear nerve and the abducens nerve can be identified not only in the subarachnoid space and cavernous sinus, but also in the orbit. However, a precondition is the use of appropriate imaging sequences and planes (e.g., subarachnoid cisterns: T2-weighted fast spin-echo or T2*-weighted three-dimensional sequences in oblique-axial and sagittal planes; cavernous sinus: contrast-enhanced T1-weighted coronal images; orbit: T1-weighted images without contrast agent in the coronal plane obtained using surface coils). The capability of imaging cranial nerves is clinically important not only for diagnostic purposes in eye muscle palsies but also for planning surgical procedures at the cranio-orbital junction.     

Surgical outcome of blowout fracture: early repair without implants and the usefulness of balloon treatment

PURPOSE: To determine the surgical intervention time, which is most likely to achieve a high success rate for blowout fracture repair without implants and the usefulness of treatment with an intramaxillary sinus balloon. METHODS: Two hundred patients with isolated fractures of the orbit were evaluated by the Hess screen test, the Hertel exophthalmometer, and coronal computed tomography of the orbit. Operative criteria included diplopia within 30 degrees and enophthalmos >3 mm. An inferior lid incision approach was used to expose the orbital floor for realignment of bone fragments. Eighty of the patients received a gingival incision, followed by an osteotomy to create a 10-mm opening into the maxillary sinus for placement of a silicon-Teflon-silicon balloon. RESULTS: The highest success rate, with diplopia completely improved in 66% of the patients, was observed when surgery was performed within 3 days after the injury. This success rate declined as surgical intervention was delayed. In 197 cases, enophthalmos was improved to <2 mm postoperatively for patients who had surgery within 14 days. The balloon treatment was well tolerated and caused no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery within 3 days is recommended in cases with diplopia and enophthalmos. An intramaxillary sinus balloon treatment was useful for the cases with large orbital floor fracture that could cause latent enophthalmos.     

Ophthalmologic outcome after third cranial nerve palsy or paresis in childhood.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the causes and ophthalmologic outcome of oculomotor nerve palsy or paresis in children younger than 8 years of age. METHODS: Patients evaluated between 1985 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Data analyzed included vision, residual strabismus after surgery, aberrant reinnervation, binocular function, and anisometropia. Long-term outcome was assessed in patients followed-up longer than 6 months. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were identified. The most frequent causes were congenital (39%), traumatic (37%), and neoplastic (17%). Visual acuities were reduced in 71% of patients at the time of the initial visit. Long-term outcome could be assessed in 20 of the 41 patients (49%), with a mean follow-up of 3.6 years (range, 0.5 to 13 years). Visual acuities were reduced because of amblyopia in 35% and nonamblyopic factors in 25% of patients in the long-term outcome group at last follow-up. The best response to amblyopia therapy was in the congenital group, in which all patients improved to normal visual acuity. Strabismus surgery was performed on 8 of 20 children (40%) followed-up, none of whom demonstrated measurable stereopsis after operation despite improved alignment. Aberrant reinnervation was present in 9 of 20 patients (45%). Only 3 patients fully recovered from their oculomotor nerve injuries, and these were the only patients to regain measurable stereopsis. The causes in those 3 patients were congenital, traumatic, and neoplastic. CONCLUSIONS: Oculomotor nerve palsy/paresis is associated with poor visual and sensorimotor outcome in children younger than 8 years of age. The best ophthalmologic outcome was in the resolved cases (3 of 20; 15%). Amblyopia therapy was most effective with congenital causes, but treatment results were poor with other causes. Young children with posttraumatic and postneoplastic oculomotor nerve injuries demonstrated the worst ophthalmologic outcomes.     

Bilateral Fascicular Third Nerve Palsy in Posterior Circulation Stroke

Third nerve palsy is bilateral in only about 10% of cases, of which one in five cases is due to brainstem stroke. Bilateral oculomotor nerve palsy as an isolated clinical finding after brainstem stroke is extremely rare. We present a case of severe bilateral fascicular oculomotor nerve palsy due to distal basilar occlusion and subsequent midbrain infarction of cardioembolic origin. The patient required mechanical aids and subsequent ptosis surgery to relieve complete ptosis at least unilaterally.     

Anatomy of the extraneural blood supply to the intracranial oculomotor nerve.

AIMS: An anatomical study was undertaken to determine the extraneural blood supply to the intracranial oculomotor nerve. METHODS: Human tissue blocks containing brainstem, cranial nerves II-VI, body of sphenoid, and associated cavernous sinuses were obtained, injected with contrast material, and dissected using a stereoscopic microscope. RESULTS: Eleven oculomotor nerves were dissected, the intracranial part being divided into proximal, middle, and distal (intracavernous) parts. The proximal part of the intracranial oculomotor nerve received extraneural nutrient arterioles from thalamoperforating arteries in all specimens and in six nerves this blood supply was supplemented by branches from other brainstem vessels. Four nerves were seen to be penetrated by branches of brainstem vessels and these penetrating arteries also supplied nutrient arterioles. The middle part of the intracranial oculomotor nerve did not receive nutrient arterioles from adjacent arteries. The distal part of the intracranial oculomotor nerve received nutrient arterioles from the inferior cavernous sinus artery in all 11 nerves and in seven nerves this was supplemented by a tentorial artery arising from the meningohypophyseal trunk. The inferior hypophyseal artery arose from the meningohypophyseal trunk in all 11 cavernous sinuses dissected. CONCLUSION: This study shows a constant pattern to the blood supply of the intracranial oculomotor nerve. It also highlights the close relation between the blood supplies to the intracavernous oculomotor nerve and the pituitary gland.     

Solitary Orbital Myofibroma: Clinical,Radiographic, and Histopathologic Findings. A Report of Two Cases

This describes a non-interventional case series of 2 patients, aged 7 and 9 years referred to Oculoplastic Unit, both for evaluation of a gradually enlarging, painless, mass of the cheek. CT scan of the first case revealed left orbital floor destruction from a well-defined intraosseous mass. The second was a round circumscribed orbital floor tumor without bone destruction. Histological diagnosis of myofibroma was rendered in both cases. Solitary myofibromas are rare in the orbit. Their rapid growth and bony destruction can mimic malignant tumors. Complete excision with close follow-up is the preferred treatment. Solitary myofibroma should be considered in the differential diagnoses of fibrous tumors with bone destruction in the orbit.     

Retrograde horseradish peroxidase transport after oculomotor nerve injury

We studied the distribution of somatic motor neurons innervating the cat superior rectus 3-6 months after oculomotor nerve injury using intramuscular horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In normal cats, 98% or more of the labelled superior rectus motoneurons were in the contralateral oculomotor subnucleus. Two experimental cats who exhibited little or no evidence of recovery showed few labelled cells (4% of controls) which were distributed in both the ipsilateral and contralateral oculomotor nucleus. The other three experimental cats demonstrated definite signs of recovery, and HRP injections labelled more cells (20% of controls) also distributed in the ipsilateral and contralateral oculomotor subnuclei. This study shows that, after sectioning, the oculomotor nerve regenerates and anomalous connections develop between the somatic motoneurons of the ipsilateral oculomotor nucleus and the superior rectus. These findings support the hypothesis that acquired oculomotor synkinesis developing after third nerve injury results from misdirection of regenerating axons.