A new radiological measurement method used to evaluate the modified transconjunctival orbital fat decompression surgery

PURPOSE: A new radiological method was used to evaluate the plastic effect of modified transconjunctival orbital fat decompression surgery in patients with inactive thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. METHODS: In this study, 10 inactive patients (14 eyes) with moderate to severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy were selected. The patients underwent modified transconjunctival orbital fat decompression surgery. According to the results of a spiral CT scan before and 6 months after the surgery, the INFINITT system workstation was used to measure the eyeball protrusion value. According to the results obtained by the PHLIPS IntelliSpace Portal elliptical area and line segment measurement tools, the standard elliptical vertebral volume formula was used to calculate the muscular cone inner volume. Changes in eyeball protrusion and the inner volume of the muscular cone before and after surgery were examined. Statistical analysis of the correlation between the two parameters was performed. RESULTS: Radiological measurement results confirmed that removing the orbital fat in the muscle cone during surgery was effective for alleviating eyeball protrusion in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (P < 0.05). This surgery caused an obvious change in the muscle cone inner volume (P < 0.05). And there was significant correlation between changes in eyeball protrusion and muscle cone inner volume (r = 0.797, P = 0.0006, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The radiological assessment method used in this study is simple and easy to implement. For inactive patients with moderate to severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy who just want to improve their appearance, the modified orbital fat decompression surgery is worth considering.