26-year-old girl had lost her vision after being hit with stones by a drunken person at Ramtekdi Bridge
PUNE: A team of doctors at Noble Hospitals and Research Centre performed optic nerve decompression, bony fixation to restore vision and bone grafting, and skull reconstruction to correct facial injuries near the eye orbit of a 26-year-old girl. The young IT professional had suffered complex injuries including eye orbit and lost her vision after being hit with stones hurled by a drunken person near the Ramtekdi area. A team of doctors at Noble Hospital and Research Centre including ENT expert Dr.Sudhir Halikar, Plastic surgeons Dr.Ravi Swaminathan and Dr Manoj Pawar, and ophthalmologist Dr. Sachin Bodhale pursued the case for six months with two complex procedures.
Explaining the case of Dr. Ravi Swaminathan. Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Noble Hospitals and Research Centre said that about six months back the young girl was brought to our hospital with heavy bleeding cuts near her eye and fractured eye bones. She was riding a pillion on a bike when she was hit on the side of her eye. The soft tissue and bony injury had caused compression of her optic nerve and she had lost her vision. She had also suffered serious facial injuries and that had complicated the situation. He added that the priority was to restore her vision.
A team at Nobel Hospitals under the leadership of ENT expert Dr.Sudhir Halikar and plastic surgeons Dr. Swaminathan performed the ‘Endoscopic Optic Nerve’ decompression procedure.
Dr.Sudhir Halikar, ENT surgeon at Noble Hospitals and Research Centre said that the procedure is conducted under general anesthesia. The two-step procedure involved putting the endoscope along with other tools through the nose to open the sinuses behind the optic nerve and the eye. In the second step, the bone overlaying the optic canal was removed to make more space and ease some pressure on the optic nerve.
It is important to understand the structure of the portion near the eye orbit. The optic nerve is spread from the brain, through the skull to the eye. A portion of this nerve is also in a rigid bony tunnel near the skull. Any condition like injury, trauma, tumor, or overgrowth may cause compression or swelling increasing the pressure on the optic nerve. This may cause loss of vision. Therefore, reducing pressure on the optic nerve is important. Endoscopic optic nerve decompression is a minimally invasive procedure performed by ENT surgeons.
Dr. Swaminathan added that the second and equally important part included bone grafting and skull reconstruction. The first step involved decompression by cutting the overlaying bone reducing the pressure. But the orbital globe requires support and a bone cannot be placed inside as it will increase the pressure again. So the floor is reconstructed by giving the support of a titanium plate.
Plastic Surgeon Dr Manoj Pawar said that this is important to ensure the restoration of eye orbit contours. In simple terms, it helps to bring both eyes on the same horizontal level and correct double vision.
The stitches were removed and in August’s first week when the girl came for a follow-up, the doctors found the scars almost fully recovered.
Dr Divij Mane, Director of Noble Hospitals and Research Centre said that It’s teamwork, commitment to the patients, and commitment to one another as a team that results in the best possible outcome for the patients. We congratulate our team for addressing this rare condition successfully.
Dr Dileep Mane, Managing Director of Noble Hospitals and Research Centre said that we aim to deliver the most advanced care in the field backed by the best experts This case reflects how multidisciplinary team effort can bring the best results for the patient. We are happy that the aspiring youngster has restored vision and will be back soon to pursue her ambitions in life.
