A quantitative analysis of the brow shape after frontalis muscle contraction.

PURPOSE: To measure the changes of the eyebrow's contour after frontalis muscle (FM) contraction. METHODS: Two consecutive pictures of the eyes and frontal region of 36 volunteers (15 men and 21 women) were obtained with the forehead relaxed and upon maximal frontalis muscle contraction. Bézier lines representing the brows' contours, obtained with the ImageJ software, were graphically sampled with a resolution of 0.025 mm. The contours of the relaxed and elevated brows were compared regarding the position of the contour peak (CP), the degree of elevation of brow central point, and the medial and lateral areas outlined between the brow contours before and after frontalis contraction. The asymmetry of the brow contour after FM contraction was calculated by the Naeije formula as (Medial-Lateral)/(Medial + Lateral). A difference of 10% or less between the lateral and medial areas was taken as a cutoff value for symmetrical brow elevation. RESULTS: In 62 (86.1%) of the eyes, the location of the brow's CP was lateral to the brow's midpoint. When the brows were raised, the CP of 60% of the brows was displaced medially and 40% laterally. The motion of the CP with medial displacement (mean = 3.7 mm) was significantly larger than those displaced laterally (mean = 1.9 mm) decreasing the number of brows with lateral peaks from 62 (86.1%) to 54 (75%). No difference was observed between the mean elevation of the central point of the brow for males (7.9 mm (3.2 SD) and females (7.4 mm, 3.0 SD). In 58.3% of the sample, the positional change of the medial and lateral sectors of the brows was symmetrical, and among the 41.7% asymmetrical cases, the elevation of the medial side was higher than the lateral in 66.7% of the brows. CONCLUSIONS: The brow changes during FM contraction concur well with the anatomic data of the FM shape. The contour of most brows is displaced toward the medial direction when the brow is elevated. The pattern of brow shape change is an indication of the FM anatomy and must be carefully analyzed before any procedure involving the FM, such as chemodenervation injections or frontalis slings for blepharoptosis correction.

Massive Orbital Infiltration and Trigeminal Enlargement in Churg-Strauss Syndrome Associated With IgG4 Plasma Cell Positivity.

The association of C-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis and IgG4 positivity is a new condition not well described in clinical terms. The authors examined a 28-year-old man with a previous diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly known as Churg-Strauss disease, who presented with bilateral orbital inflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse orbital infiltration and enlargement of the major divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Biopsy of the orbital contents showed necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis and a high number of IgG4-positive plasma cells (IgG4/IgG = 60%).

Deep lateral orbital decompression for Graves orbitopathy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the literature on the deep lateral orbital decompression (DLD). METHODS: The authors searched the MEDLINE, Lilac, Scopus, and EMBASE databases for all articles in English, Spanish, and French that used as keywords the terms orbital decompression and lateral wall. Two articles in German were also included. Data retrieved included the number of patients and orbits operated, types of the approach employed, exophthalmometric and horizontal eye position changes, and complications. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the mean Hertel changes induced by the surgery were calculated from series with 15 or more data. RESULTS: Of the 204 publications initially retrieved, 131 were included. Detailed surgical techniques were analyzed from 59 articles representing 4559 procedures of 2705 patients. In 45.8% of the reports, the orbits were decompressed ab-interno. Ab-externo and rim-off techniques were used in 25.4% and 28.8% of the orbits, respectively. Mean and 95% CI intervals of Hertel changes, pooled from 15 articles, indicate that the effect of the surgery is not related to the technique and ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 mm. The rate of new onset of diplopia varied from zero to 8.6%. Several complications have been reported including dry eye, oscillopsia, temporal howling, lateral rectus damage, and bleeding. Unilateral amaurosis and subdural hematoma have been described in only one patients each. CONCLUSIONS: The low rate of new-onset diplopia is the main benefit of DLD. Prospective studies are needed to compare the rate of complications induced by the 3 main surgical techniques used.