Optic nerve sheath fenestration for the treatment of papilledema secondary to cerebral venous thrombosis.

A 16-year-old adolescent girl with multiple risk factors for thrombosis presented with acute onset of headache, decreased vision, and papilledema. Evaluation demonstrated cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) involving the left transverse and sigmoid sinuses and left internal jugular vein. Following bilateral optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF), she experienced improvement in vision and resolution of papilledema. In selected cases, ONSF is an effective surgical option for the treatment of papilledema due to CVT after medical treatment has failed.