TRAUMATIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY COMPLICATING FACIAL FRACTURE REPAIR

Blindness can result from traumatic optic neuropathy following facial trauma and can complicate the management of concomitant facial fractur es. Traumatic optic neuropathy can cause a substantial delay in the re pair of facial fractures, leading to compromised surgical results. It can also result in postoperative visual loss following facial fracture repair. We present four cases of traumatic optic neuropathy that comp romised the treatment of facial fractures. The management of facial fr actures in patients with traumatic optic neuropathy must proceed cauti ously. Delayed primary repair of midface fractures by postponing surge ry for 10 to 14 days may be of benefit in avoiding further deteriorati on of vision. In addition, megadose corticosteroids and/or optic nerve decompression is useful in the management of these patients.