COMBINED TRANSCONJUNCTIVAL INTRANASAL ENDOSCOPIC APPROACH TO THE OPTIC CANAL IN TRAUMATIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY/

Surgical decompression of the optic canal is indicated in patients wit h traumatic optic neuropathy who fail to respond to corticosteroids. T raditional surgical approaches to the orbital apex have been effective in achieving optic nerve decompression but require either a craniotom y, provide limited exposure with late identification and protection of the optic nerve, or require external incisions, The combined transcon junctival/intranasal endoscopic approach to the optic canal offers suf ficient exposure, allows early identification and protection of the op tic nerve, provides space for the use of multiple surgical instruments , obviates a craniotomy and external incisions, and can be performed q uickly with minimal morbidity, The technique of combined transconjunct ival/intranasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression will be described and the experience with nine cases will be presented.