Result Comparison after Reoperation in Recurrent Exotropia According to the Type of First Operation

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the clinical courses and surgical success rates of secondary operations in recurrent exotropia according to the type of first operation for correction of exotropia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients with recurrent exotropia of the basic or pseudodivergence excess types. In group A (36 patients), bilateral lateral rectus (LR) recession was performed as the first operation and uni- or bilateral medial rectus (MR) resection was performed as the second operation. In group B (19 patients), unilateral LR recession-MR resection (R&R) was performed as the first operation and LR recession or R&R in contralateral eye as the second operation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups when considering age at each operation, frequency of the amblyopia, prescription of prism, time interval for recurrence and reoperation and the final and cumulative success rates. No postoperative complications were observed in either group. The mean number of used muscles for the first and second operation was 3.9 +/- 0.4 in group A, and 3.4 +/- 0.5 in group B (p = 0.001). Mean time interval for occurrence of postoperative orthophoria was 3.7 +/- 6.2 months in group A and 6.5 +/- 16.2 in group B (p = 0.047). In group B, the incidence of esodeviation tended to increase after postoperative 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: The final success rates of reoperation between the 2 types of the first operation in recurrent exotropia were similar. Mean time between postoperative overcorrection of orthophoria was shorter in the group with bilateral LR recession followed by secondary MR resection than in the other group. Unilateral R&R followed by LR recession or R&R in contralateral eye may be more helpful to decrease the number of used muscles than in the bilateral LR recession followed by secondary MR resection.

Result Comparison after Reoperation in Recurrent Exotropia According to the Type of First Operation

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the clinical courses and surgical success rates of secondary operations in recurrent exotropia according to the type of first operation for correction of exotropia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients with recurrent exotropia of the basic or pseudodivergence excess types. In group A (36 patients), bilateral lateral rectus (LR) recession was performed as the first operation and uni- or bilateral medial rectus (MR) resection was performed as the second operation. In group B (19 patients), unilateral LR recession-MR resection (R&R) was performed as the first operation and LR recession or R&R in contralateral eye as the second operation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups when considering age at each operation, frequency of the amblyopia, prescription of prism, time interval for recurrence and reoperation and the final and cumulative success rates. No postoperative complications were observed in either group. The mean number of used muscles for the first and second operation was 3.9 +/- 0.4 in group A, and 3.4 +/- 0.5 in group B (p = 0.001). Mean time interval for occurrence of postoperative orthophoria was 3.7 +/- 6.2 months in group A and 6.5 +/- 16.2 in group B (p = 0.047). In group B, the incidence of esodeviation tended to increase after postoperative 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: The final success rates of reoperation between the 2 types of the first operation in recurrent exotropia were similar. Mean time between postoperative overcorrection of orthophoria was shorter in the group with bilateral LR recession followed by secondary MR resection than in the other group. Unilateral R&R followed by LR recession or R&R in contralateral eye may be more helpful to decrease the number of used muscles than in the bilateral LR recession followed by secondary MR resection.

Comparison of Surgical Results Between Unilateral Recession-Resection and Bilateral Resections in Recurrent Exotropia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical results between unilateral lateral rectus recession-medial rectus resection (R and R) and bilateral medial rectus resections in recurrent exotropia. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 22 patients with recurrent exotropia of the basic or pseudodivergence excess types were enrolled. In group A (14 patients), unilateral R and R was performed during the first operation, and R and R was performed in contralateral eyes during the second operation. In group B (8 patients), bilateral lateral rectus recessions were performed during the first operation and bilateral medial rectus resections during the second operation. RESULTS: The mean time interval between the first and second operations was 28.9 months (range, 5 to 64 months) in Group A and 59.9 months (range, 35 to 75 months) in Group B, which was a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.006). The success rates at last follow-up after the second operation were 85.7% in Group A and 87.5% in Group B, which was not statistically different between the two groups (p<1.000). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in success rate after the second operation between the two groups. Therefore, the operation method for recurrent exotropia can be chosen according to the operator's preference.