Assessment of Visual Outcome Following Optic Canal Decompression in Traumatic Optic Nerve Injuries

ABSTRACT

Nine patients with traumatic optic nerve injury were treated with optic canal decompression via transcranial approach. Postoperative visual function evaluated by visual in all patients and monitoring of visual evoked potential in 3 patients. 4 of 8 patients showed improvement in visual acuity and 2 of 3 patients also improved in the results of visual evoked potential monitoring. The mean duration between injury and operation of whom showed postoperative improvement of visual function was 6.8 days but 13 days in 5 unimproved or deteriorated patients. These findings indicate that optic canal decompression is recommended for patients with traumatic optic nerve injury who show no neurological improvement by conservative management. And also, the preoperative duration, the better visual outcome postoperatively.