Abstract
Purpose of Review
Orbital decompression may be required for patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) who have not responded to medical therapy. The endoscopic transnasal approach to the medial and inferior orbital walls is an excellent surgical option for the vast majority of patients. This article will cover the latest developments in endoscopic management of thyroid eye disease while reviewing the pathophysiology of the disease, patient selection, proper surgical technique, postoperative outcomes, and complications.
Recent Findings
Endoscopic surgeons have modified the technique over the past several years in order to reduce the incidence of certain complications, in particular diplopia. The implementation of “balanced” decompression, along with preservation of orbital struts and/or periorbital slings, has improved postoperative outcomes.
Summary
Endoscopic orbital decompression remains a safe and effective surgical option for TED best applied in conjunction with inferior and lateral approaches. Working closely with the oculoplastics team to effect a balanced decompression most often yields the best outcomes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
•• Kingdom TT, Davies BW, Durairaj VD. Orbital decompression for the management of thyroid eye disease: an analysis of outcomes and complications. Laryngoscope. 2015;125:2034–40 Describes proper technique for balanced endoscopic orbital decompression and excellent surgical outcomes.
Burch HB, Wartofsky L. Graves’ ophthalmopathy: current concepts regarding pathogenesis and management. Endocr Rev. 1993;14:747–93.
Forbes G, Gorman CA, Brennan MD, Gehring DG, Ilstrup DM, Earnest F. Ophthalmopathy of graves’ disease: computerized volume measurements of the orbital fat and muscle. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1986;7:651–6.
Grubeck-Loebenstein B, Trieb K, Sztankay A, Holter W, Anderl H, Wick G. Retrobulbar T cells from patients with graves’ ophthalmopathy are CD8+ and specifically recognize autologous fibroblasts. J Clin Invest. 1994;93:2738–43.
Kahaly GJ, Pitz S, Hommel G, Dittmar M. Randomized, single blind trial of intravenous versus oral steroid monotherapy in graves’ orbitopathy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90:5234–40.
Tanda ML, Bartalena L. Efficacy and safety of orbital radiotherapy for graves’ Orbitopathy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97:3857–65.
Saeed P, Tavakoli Rad S, Bisschop PHLT. Dysthyroid optic neuropathy. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;34:S60–7.
Becker SS. Preoperative computed tomography evaluation in sinus surgery: a template-driven approach. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2010;43:731–51.
Error M, Ashby S, Orlandi RR, Alt JA. Single-blinded prospective implementation of a preoperative imaging checklist for endoscopic sinus surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;158:177–80.
• Suh JD, Kuan EC, Thompson CF, Scawn RL, Feinstein AJ, Barham HP, et al. Using fixed anatomical landmarks to avoid medial rectus injury: a radiographic analysis in patients with and without graves’ disease. Am J Otolaryngol. 2016;37:334–8 Highlights the relationship between the lamina papyracea and medial rectus muscle.
Pletcher SD, Sindwani R, Metson R. Endoscopic orbital and optic nerve decompression. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2006;39:943–58 vi.
Kacker A, Kazim M, Murphy M, Trokel S, Close LG. “Balanced” orbital decompression for severe Graves’ orbitopathy: technique with treatment algorithm. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;128:228–35.
Metson R, Samaha M. Reduction of diplopia following endoscopic orbital decompression: the orbital sling technique. Laryngoscope. 2002;112:1753–7.
Jimenez-Chobillon M-A, Lopez-Oliver R-D. Transnasal endoscopic approach in the treatment of Graves ophthalmopathy: the value of a medial periorbital strip. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2010;127:97–103.
Wright ED, Davidson J, Codere F, Desrosiers M. Endoscopic orbital decompression with preservation of an inferomedial bony strut: minimization of postoperative diplopia. J Otolaryngol. 1999;28:252–6.
Bleier BS, Lefebvre DR, Freitag SK. Endoscopic orbital floor decompression with preservation of the inferomedial strut. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2014;4:82–4.
Yao WC, Sedaghat AR, Yadav P, Fay A, Metson R. Orbital decompression in the endoscopic age: the modified inferomedial orbital strut. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;154:963–9.
Finn AP, Bleier B, Cestari DM, Kazlas MA, Dagi LR, Lefebvre DR, et al. A retrospective review of orbital decompression for thyroid orbitopathy with endoscopic preservation of the Inferomedial orbital bone strut. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;33:334–9.
Prat MC, Braunstein AL, Dagi Glass LR, Kazim M. Orbital fat decompression for thyroid eye disease: retrospective case review and criteria for optimal case selection. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015;31:215–8.
Wu W, Selva D, Bian Y, Wang X, Sun MT, Kong Q, et al. Endoscopic medial orbital fat decompression for proptosis in type 1 graves orbitopathy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2015;159:277–84.
Leung M-K, Platt MP, Metson R. Revision endoscopic orbital decompression in the management of Graves’ orbitopathy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009;141:46–51.
Shepard KG, Levin PS, Terris DJ. Balanced orbital decompression for Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Laryngoscope. 1998;108:1648–53.
Wickwar S, McBain HB, Ezra DG, Hirani SP, Rose GE, Newman SP. Which factors are associated with quality of life in patients with Graves’ orbitopathy presenting for orbital decompression surgery? Eye (Lond). 2015;29:951–7.
Sellari-Franceschini S, Dallan I, Bajraktari A, Fiacchini G, Nardi M, Rocchi R, et al. Surgical complications in orbital decompression for Graves’ orbitopathy. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2016;36:265–74.
Antisdel JL, Gumber D, Holmes J, Sindwani R. Management of sinonasal complications after endoscopic orbital decompression for Graves’ orbitopathy. Laryngoscope. 2013;123:2094–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Endoscopic Orbital Surgery
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Massey, C.J., Hink, E. & Kingdom, T.T. Endoscopic Orbital Decompression for Thyroid Eye Disease. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 7, 147–152 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-019-00233-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-019-00233-1