Orbital volume expansion of dysthyroid ophthalmopathy by surgical placement of lateral rim implants: a case study.

Purpose: To measure the increase in orbital volume expansion effected by surgical placement of a lateral rim implant.

Methods: Computed tomography was used to obtain 1-mm axial sections of a normal human cadaver skull. A computer program was used to measure the orbital area of each section and integrate the sum of the areas to obtain the total orbital volume. Following placement of a lateral orbital rim implant, this procedure was repeated to obtain the new orbital volume.

Results: The orbital volume increased from 22.2 cm3 to 23.6 cm3 (an increase of 6%) following placement of the lateral orbital rim implant.

Conclusion: Surgical placement of a lateral orbital rim implant can be an effective method of orbital volume expansion in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy.