The medical orbital strut in the prevention of postdecompression dystopia in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy.

Ocular dystopia with inferomedial displacement of the globe is an unusual but well-recognized complication of bony orbital decompression. It is caused by displacement of the muscle cone and orbital connective tissue system into the maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses. We illustrate a surgical variation of bony orbital decompression leaving intact a strut of bone at the maxillary-ethmoid junction. This bony strut reduces inferomedial displacement of the muscle cone and provides a medial supporting "ledge" in cases requiring late orbital reconstruction.