Optic canal decompression in treatment of acute traumatic optic nerve injury: report of 12 cases

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effects of optic canal decompression in treatment of acute traumatic optic nerve injury.Methods Twelve operated patients with acute traumatic optic nerve injury were reviewed retrospectively from Jan,2002 to Jan,2008.Microsurgical optic canal decompression was carried out in all cases.Results In 4 patients with no light perception,2 patients,eyesight improved and another 2 was not;In 6 patients with light perception in front of the eye,1 patient didn,t improved,2 patients recovered to see hands waving in front of the eye,2 patients recovered to calculate fingers within 1m in front of the eye,1 patient recovered to preoperative normal eyesight;2 patients who could see hands waving in front of the eye recover to preoperative normal eyesight.with the exception of one case whose optic nerve was nearly intersected,in other 11 cases 2 cases didn,t improved(18.18%),3 cases were effective(27.27%),5 cases were significant effective(45.45%),1 case was predominant effective(9.10%),the total effective rate was 81.82%.Conclusions Efficacy of optic canal decompression depends on the degree of optic nerve injuries and delay of operation from the injury.Well-recovered patients were those operated within 5 days,the earlier time and quicker recovery.