Abstract
Background: Endocrine orbitopathy is an autoimmune chronic disease characterized by increased intraorbital fat tissue and hypertrophic extraocular muscles. The aim of surgical decompression is to reduce the bony borders of the orbit and remove fat tissue to increase the total orbital volume accessible for the eyebulb and muscles.
Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study of 40 journals from patients surgically treated for endocrine orbitopathy at Ullevål university hospital and Rikshospitalet from 2000 to 2009. The purpose of the study was to register several parameters including gender, age, previous treatment of the thyroid gland and orbits, pre- and postoperative measurements and symptoms, choice of surgical access, postoperative complications and need for additional decompressive surgery. Additionally, smoking habits and patient satisfaction was registered.
Results: 83 % of the patients were female. Median age was 47 years. Preoperatively most patients presented a range of moderate to severe symptoms, where proptosis, diplopia and eye lid retraction were the most dominant, and had a complex history of treatment for hyperthyroidism and orbitopathy. 38% had moderate postoperative complications without permanet sequelae. 25 % of the patients needed additional decompressive surgery and 50 % had corrective strabismal and/ or eye lid surgery.
Conclusion: Endocrine orbitopathy is a complex disorder that requires a multidisiplinary approach. The treatment plan needs to be tailored for each individual, and close cooperation between the involved specialities is essential. Most postoperative complications are transient or can be handled adequately. Patient satisfaction with decompressive surgery seems to be high but the journal information was too scarce to make any conclusions.