Bilateral inferior rectus muscle recession for correction of hypotropia in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: The restrictive myopathy of dysthyroid ophthalmopathy frequently results in strabismus and diplopia. The most common deviation is hypotropia. Ipsilateral inferior rectus muscle recession, the generally accepted treatment, may lead to a progressive marked overcorrection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of bilateral asymmetric inferior rectus muscle operations with regard to late progressive overcorrection. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing bilateral inferior rectus muscle recession for dysthyroid ophthalmopathy between 1993 and 1997 found 8 patients with hypotropia resulting from dysthyroid ophthalmopathy. Alignment and motility were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively in all patients. Bilateral asymmetric inferior rectus muscle recession was performed on all patients with an adjustable suture performed on the hypotropic eye. A successful, long-term, postoperative result was defined as orthophoria or a vertical misalignment of less than or equal to 5 PD in primary gaze. RESULTS: Data were collected from 8 patients at 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Six patients had successful alignment, and 2 patients remained undercorrected. Seven patients were successfully aligned, and 1 patient was undercorrected at the latest postoperative examination (mean, 18 months). CONCLUSION: In our series, bilateral asymmetric inferior rectus muscle recession resulted in successful correction of hypotropia without late postoperative overcorrections in patients with dysthyroid ophthalmopathy.     

Use of augmented rectus muscle transposition surgery for complex strabismus

PURPOSE: Full tendon rectus muscle transposition surgery augmented with posterior fixation sutures has been shown to be effective in the treatment of abducens palsy and Duane's syndrome. The purpose of this study is to summarize our experience with the use of this procedure and a three fourths partial tendon transposition modification of this procedure for a variety of complex vertical and horizontal paralytic eye movement disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative interventional consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen patients with paralytic strabismus. INTERVENTION: Full tendon rectus muscle transposition procedure augmented with posterior fixation sutures (13 patients) or a three fourths partial tendon transposition augmented with posterior fixation sutures (5 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of diplopia in the primary position and improved ocular alignment. RESULTS: Comparing preoperative to postoperative status, presence of primary position diplopia decreased from 64% to 14%, anomalous head posture decreased from 56% to 6%, and primary position alignment improved in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Full tendon rectus muscle transposition surgery augmented with posterior fixation sutures and the vessel-sparing three fourths partial tendon transposition modification of this technique are effective for the treatment of a variety of complex vertical and horizontal paralytic ocular motility disorders.     

Surgical management of strabismus after rupture of the inferior rectus muscle.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of an inferior rectus muscle is an uncommon problem. The resulting absence of infraduction and large hypertropia that result when the muscle cannot be repaired are challenging to manage surgically. METHODS: We treated 2 patients who had traumatic rupture of the inferior rectus muscle. Both patients underwent an inferior transposition of the inferior halves of the medial and lateral rectus muscles without disinsertion (modified Jensen transposition procedure). RESULTS: Both patients had a persistent small overcorrection in the primary gaze position. One patient was treated with a second strabismus surgery consisting of a recession of the contralateral superior rectus muscle; the other was treated with prism glasses. Both achieved restoration of depression to approximately 40 degrees and single binocular vision in the primary position at distance, near, and in the reading position. CONCLUSION: This modified Jensen transposition procedure of the horizontal rectus muscles appears to be highly effective in the treatment of the hypertropia and infraduction deficit produced by rupture of the inferior rectus muscle. It also appears to be suitable for use in situations when other rectus muscles are absent or unavailable for surgical manipulation.     

Single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery for restrictive strabismus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and stability of ocular alignment of single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery (SSASS) in restrictive strabismus. METHODS: This was an observational case series comprising 12 patients with restrictive strabismus (mean age, 54.8 years) who were treated with SSASS using intravenous midazolam, fentanyl, and topical anesthesia. All were studied in a retrospective institutional manner. The refractive strabismus in 7 patients was caused by dysthyroid orbitopathy. Five patients had undergone previous ocular surgery, and 4 had undergone previous strabismus surgery. SSASS typically involved the vertical rectus muscles. Horizontal rectus muscles were adjusted when necessary. Silicon-treated polyester suture material (Ti-cron; United States Surgical, Norwalk, CT no longer available), 6-0, were used for inferior rectus recessions. Ocular alignment was set at ortho at the end of surgery and evaluated at 2 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months after surgery. The typical hang-back procedure was to lock the suture at the middle and edges of the tendon or muscle at the intended disinsertion point. The tendon was then disinserted and hung back from the original insertion with adjustments until the desired position (ortho) and single vision were attained. RESULTS: All patients remained comfortable throughout surgery and had no significant postoperative discomfort. All patients except 2 (16.6%) maintained satisfactory vertical alignment (<2 prism diopters). These 2 patients with dysthyroid orbitopathy had progressive overcorrection after inferior rectus recession. CONCLUSIONS: SSASS, using intravenous midazolam, fentanyl, and topical anesthesia, is a safe and precise alternative treatment for patients with restrictive strabismus including those with dysthyroid orbitopathy.     

Combined horizontal rectus muscle minimally invasive strabismus surgery for exotropia

Objective: To evaluate combined horizontal rectus muscle minimally invasive strabismus surgery (MISS) for exotropia.Design: Case series.Participants: Fifty-two consecutive exotropic patients operated on by 1 surgeon with MISS combined unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle plication.Methods: Alignment, binocular single vision, conjunctival injection and swelling, and complications during the first 6 postoperative months were recorded prospectively. Conjunctival swelling and injection on the first postoperative day were scored retrospectively and compared with historic controls operated on with combined recession-plication or recession-resection using a limbal approach.Results: Conjunctival swelling and injection were mainly mild on the first postoperative day and less pronounced than after surgery with a limbal approach (comparison of swelling and injection for MISS vs limbal opening recession-plication p < 0.001 and for MISS vs limbal opening recession-resection p < 0.001). A conversion to a limbal approach was necessary in 3/104 (3%, 95% CI 1%-7%) of all muscles. No scleral perforation or other serious complication was observed, and no patient needed a repeat operation within 6 months (0/49, 0%, 95% CI 0%-6%).Conclusions: This study demonstrates that small-incision, minimal dissection combined recession-plication surgery induces less conjunctival swelling and injection compared with the usual limbal approach.     

Anteriorization of inferior oblique muscle and downward transposition of medial rectus muscle for lost inferior rectus muscle

A 6-year-old boy who had been treated with bilateral medial rectus muscle recessions 3 years earlier for congenital esotropia was undergoing bilateral inferior oblique muscle recessions to correct inferior oblique muscle overaction. The right inferior rectus muscle was inadvertently cut during this surgery and was irretrievable. To manage this complication, the medial rectus muscle was transposed toward the inferior rectus insertion and the inferior oblique muscle was anteriorized. At the 1 year follow-up visit, no infraduction deficit was present on downgaze and only 8(delta) of left hypertropia was present in primary position.     

Late overcorrections in inferior rectus muscle surgery for vertical squint correction

The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative results in 21 patients with vertical strabismus and diplopia who underwent surgery on the inferior rectus. Postoperative results were obtained 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. We concluded that inferior rectus recession may have unpredictable outcome despite the use of adjustable sutures. Whenever surgery on this muscle is considered, patients must be left undercorrected to avoid late overcorrections.     

Anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle for a snapped inferior rectus muscle following functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

A 55-year-old woman was referred with a 4-month history of diplopia following functional endoscopic ethmoidectomy for chronic sinusitis. She had right hypertropia of 14 prism diopters in the primary position that increased to 30 prism diopters in down gaze. Her right eye showed a moderate limitation of motion in down gaze. Orbital imaging demonstrated a snapped right inferior rectus muscle. The inferior oblique muscle was transposed as an initial treatment for the snapped inferior rectus muscle. After surgery, the patient was orthophoric and obtained fusion in the primary position.     

直肌肌束部分转位移植矫正麻痹性斜视的临床观察

目的 探讨直肌肌束部分转位移植矫正麻痹性斜视手术方法和治疗效果.方法 总结27例麻痹性斜视行直肌肌束部分转位移植,并观察在术前、术后麻痹肌的运动情况、双眼视功能、眼球运动情况、眼位及复视消失情况等结果.结果 27例患者术后眼球运动功能有不同程度好转,除2例外全部过中线,转动1～2mm者12例、3mm者10例、4～5mm者2例、7mm者1例.术后被转位的肌肉运动正常.术后21例患者不同程度恢复了双眼视功能,其中具备Ⅰ度双眼单视功能13例,具备Ⅱ度双眼单视功能6例,2例有Ⅲ度双眼单视功能.6例同视机检测仍是单眼抑制.术后眼位正位22例,欠矫5～10度5例,23例复视消除,3例轻度改变注视方向也可消除复视.1例仍有复视不能耐受行二次手术.结论 直肌肌束部分转位移植可矫正麻痹性斜视眼位,消除复视,改善眼球运动,恢复部分双眼视功能,而且睫状肌血管分离保留可减少眼前段供血不足的危险,是目前安全、可行、有效地手术方法.     

Congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle

A case of unilateral congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle is presented. Absences of extraocular muscles, either singly or in combination, are rare, but isolated reports have been published. The abnormalities have been reported as occurring with increased frequency in craniofacial dysostoses, notably Crouzon's disease. In the case reported here, the abnormality was discovered during planned vertical muscle surgery for a large left hypertropia. Infraplacement of the horizontal recti was performed at a later date. Computerised axial tomography (CAT) scanning confirmed the absence of the inferior rectus. The embryogenesis of the extraocular muscles is briefly discussed.