Chapter
4:
Orbital
Hypertelorism
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Chapter
4: |
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Encephalocele
Orbital Hypertelorism
Orbital Reconstruction
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Orbital hypertelorism represents an
increased interorbital distance and is most commonly associated with
craniofacial dysostosis (ApertÕs and CrouzonÕs diseases),
encephaloceles, facial clefts, and fronto-nasal dysplasias. The
treatment of moderate to severe deformities involves surgery to reduce
the interorbital distance and to correct any nasal abnormalities by way
of an intracranial surgical approach that releases the bony orbits of
the eyes and repositions them closer together. Inlay bone grafts,
secured in place with miniplate fixation, are then placed to provide
structural support and to fill the spaces left by moving the orbits. The
ideal timing for this surgery is between two and five years of age in
order for the psychological trauma involved with the deformity to be
minimized while maximizing the ophthalmological benefits. In cases where
the deformity from hypertelorism is less severe, the surgery can be
performed using an extracranial approach to achieve orbital
rearrangement. However, it is generally agreed that using the
intracranial technique constitutes a more consistent and safer method of
correcting the malformation.
The Tennessee Craniofacial
Center, part of the Erlanger Health System, is located in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. The Center, led Larry A. Sargent, M.D., specializes in the
evaluation and treatment of patients of all ages with craniofacial deformities.
Location:
975 East Third Street. Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
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