Does head tilt influence facial appearance more than head turn?

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of facial asymmetry parameters in patients with head tilt versus those with head turn. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was performed on 155 cases, including 58 patients with congenital pure head turn due to Duane retraction syndrome (DRS), 33 patients with congenital pure head tilt due to upshoot in adduction or DRS, and 64 orthotropic subjects as the control group. The facial appearance was evaluated by computerized analysis of digital photographs of patients' faces. Relative facial size (the ratio of the distance between the external canthus and the corner of the lips of both face sides) and facial angle (the angular difference between a line that connects two external canthi and another line that connects the two corners of the lips) measured as quantitative facial parameters. Qualitative parameters were evaluated by the presence of one-sided face, cheek, and nostril compression; and columella deviation. Results: The facial asymmetry frequency in patients with head tilt, head turn, and orthotropic subjects was observed in 32 (97%), 50 (86.2%), and 22 (34.3%), respectively (P < 0.001). In patients with head tilt and head turn, the mean facial angle was 1.78º ± 1.01º and 1.19º ± 0.84º, respectively (P = 0.004) and the mean relative facial size was 1.027 ± 0.018 and 1.018 ± 0.014, respectively (P = 0.018). The frequencies of one-sided nostril compression, cheek compression, face compression, and columella deviation in patients with pure head tilt were found in 19 (58%), 21 (64%), 19 (58%), and 19 (58%) patients, respectively, and in patients with pure head turn the frequencies were observed in 42 (72%), 37 (63%), 27 (47%), and 43 (74%), respectively. All quantitative and qualitative facial asymmetry parameters and facial asymmetry frequencies were significantly higher in head tilt and head turn patients as compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: All facial asymmetry parameters in patients with head tilt and head turn were significantly higher than orthotropic subjects. The quantitative parameters such as relative facial size and facial angle were significantly higher in patients with pure head tilt than pure head turn. The results revealed that pure head tilt was associated with a higher prevalence of facial asymmetry than pure head turn.

Parks 3-step test

Background: The Parks 3-step test is an important test in the diagnosis of a single cyclovertical muscle palsy. Purpose: This video is presented to provide a simplified and easy understanding of the Parks 3-step test for post-graduate residents. Synopsis: The video contains a description of the steps to perform a 3-step test, the results of the test in a case of superior oblique palsy, the conditions that mimic a positive 3-step test, and how to identify these mimicking conditions. Highlights: This is a simple demonstration of a classic clinical diagnostic procedure.

Vertical transposition of the horizontal rectus muscles to correct head tilt because of infantile nystagmus syndrome – A case series

Purpose: Head tilt associated with infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) can be corrected by (a) operating the oblique muscles, (b) horizontally transposing the vertical rectus muscles, or (c) vertically transposing the horizontal rectus muscles. We report three cases of INS with head tilt corrected by vertically transposing the horizontal rectus muscles in both the eyes. Methods: Three cases of head tilt with INS from an institutional practice operated by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. The intervention included full tendon width transposition (upward or downward) of all four horizontal rectus muscles to induce cyclotorsion in the direction of head tilt. The primary outcome measure was the correction of head tilt in the primary position. Results: Three patients (boys) of ages ranging from 4 to 7 years with a pre-operative head tilt of 30° were operated upon. Although one patient’s oblique muscles had been operated on to correct head tilt, another patient had an unmasked face turn after the surgery, which was corrected with a modified Anderson’s procedure. Post-operatively, all patients had a reduction of head tilt to a range of 0–10°. Conclusion: Vertical transposition of horizontal rectus muscles is a simple surgical option to correct head tilt in INS. However, the results may vary based on individual cases

Management of head tilt in infantile nystagmus syndrome: A case report

Management of head tilt in infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) is a challenge. In this case report, we have described successful management of right-sided head tilt in a child with INS by operating on three oblique muscles (superior oblique anterior tenectomy in the right eye, Harada–Ito procedure in the left eye, and inferior oblique recession in the left eye). The child had complete correction of head tilt without causing any cyclovertical strabismus or torsional diplopia postoperatively.

Change in peak expiratory flow rate after the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver among young, healthy, and conscious volunteers

OBJECTIVE: The head-tilt/chin-lift (HT/CL) is a simple, routinely used maneuver to open the upper airway. Changes in the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) before and after the HT/CL maneuver have not been evaluated among conscious volunteers who are regarded as a control cohort.METHODS: Sixty healthy 20-year-old volunteers (30 males and 30 females) were enrolled. The supine position was defined as the position at which the ear-eye line was at a 10° angle to the horizontal. The HT/CL position was defined as the position at which the ear-eye line was at a 25° angle to the horizontal. PEFR was measured using a hand-held device with the subject in the supine position (pre-PEFR) and HT/CL position (post-PEFR), respectively. One set was defined as these two measurements. Five sets of measurements were performed on each subject (300 sets). The set with the maximal and minimal difference between pre-PEFR and post-PEFR were excluded from the analysis. We used a paired t-test to compare the mean pre-PEFR and post-PEFR values for the entire group and subgroups divided by sex, height, body weight, body mass index and response status.RESULTS: Overall, 360 measurements (180 sets) were analyzed. The mean pre-PEFR and post-PEFR were 316.1±87.6 and 346.5±94.7 L/min, respectively. Further, significant differences were observed for sex, height, body weight, and body mass index. In 10 subjects, post-PEFR was lower than pre-PEFR.CONCLUSION: PEFR increased by 9.6% after the HT/CL maneuver in young conscious subjects, but some subjects showed decreased PEFR after the HT/CL maneuver.

Doença vestibular em cães: 81 casos (2006-2013) / Vestibular disease in dogs: 81 cases (2006-2013)

Eighty-one cases of vestibular disease in dogs were diagnosed by the neurology service in a veterinary teaching hospital in southern Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Approximately 2/3 of these cases were interpreted as central vestibular disease (CVD) with the remaining cases being considered as peripheral vestibular disease (PVD). Pure breed dogs, especially Dachshunds (PVD) and Boxers (CVD) were more affected than mixed breed dogs. The main clinical signs observed in cases of CVD and PVD included head tilt, vestibular ataxia, and ventral or ventrolateral strabismus. Proprioceptive deficits, cranial nerve V-XII dysfunction, and changes in the levels of conscience were observed only in cases of CVD, whereas absence of palpebral reflex occurred only in cases of PVD. Inflammatory or infectious diseases, especially canine distemper and bacterial otitis were the most commonly observed conditions associated with CVD and PVD, respectively. This article establishes the epidemiology (sex, age, and breed) and prevalence of clinical signs related to canine vestibular disease in the Central Rio Grande do Sul State; discusses the use of the clinical findings in the correct diagnosis and differentiation between CVD and PVD; and defines the main specific diseases responsible for the occurrence of CVD and PVD in dogs.

De 2006 a 2013 foram diagnosticados 81 casos de doença vestibular canina no serviço de rotina em neurologia de um hospital veterinário universitário do sul do Brasil. Desses, aproximadamente dois terços foram diagnosticados com doença vestibular central (DVC) e cerca de um terço como doença vestibular periférica (DVP). Cães com raça definida foram mais acometidos que aqueles sem raça definida, principalmente Dachshund (DVP) e Boxer (DVC). Os principais sinais clínicos observados, tanto na DVP quanto na DVC, incluíram: inclinação de cabeça, ataxia vestibular e estrabismo ventral ou ventrolateral. Deficiência proprioceptiva, disfunção dos nervos cranianos V-XII e alteração de nível de consciência foram vistos apenas em casos de DVC, já a ausência de reflexo palpebral ocorreu apenas em casos de DVP. Doenças inflamatórias/infecciosas, principalmente cinomose e otite bacteriana, foram as condições mais comumente associadas à DVC e à DVP, respectivamente. Esse artigo estabelece os aspectos epidemiológicos (sexo, idade e raça) e a prevalência dos sinais clínicos observados em cães com doença vestibular na Região Central do Rio Grande do Sul, discute a utilização dos achados clínicos no diagnóstico correto e na diferenciação entre DVC e DVP, e define quais as principais doenças responsáveis pela ocorrência dessas duas síndromes clínicas.

Como um balde pode contribuir no diagnóstico neurológico? / How a bucket can contribute to neurological diagnosis?

Moedas, chaves e copos são objetos simples que podem ser utilizadosem uma avaliação neurológica de rotina. Recentemente, um balde de plástico tornou-se parte desse arsenal como instrumento para testar a vertical visual subjetiva à beira do leito. O principal empenho deste manuscrito é ressaltar a utilidade do teste do balde no exame à beira do leito visando demonstrar desvios da percepção da verticalidade em doenças comuns na prática neurotológica tais como: acidente vascular cerebral, doença de Parkinson, parkinsonismo, lesão vestibular unilateral e enxaqueca.

Coins, keys or glasses are simple objects that can be used in a routineneurological evaluation. Recently, a plastic bucket became part of the arsenal as a tool for bedside test of the subjective visual vertical. The main effort of this manuscript is to emphasize the usefulness of the bedside bucket test seeking to show verticality perception deviations in common neurologic diseases such as: stroke, Parkinson disease, parkinsonism, unilateral vestibular lesion, and migraine.

The Outcome of Graded Inferior Oblique Recession in the Congenital Unilateral Superior Oblique Palsy

PURPOSE: To examine changes in vertical deviation and improvement in head tilt after graded inferior oblique (IO) recession surgery in patients with congenital unilateral superior oblique palsy (SOP). Frequency of inferior oblique overaction (IOOA) or bilateral SOP in the contralateral eye after surgery was also investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 65 patients who had undergone graded IO recession surgery in unilateral congenital SOP with at least 1 year of postoperative follow-up. Postoperative vertical deviation was classified as excellent (under 3 prism diopters, PD), good (4-7 PD) or poor (over 8 PD). The occurrence of IOOA was considered if more than 2 IOOAs were observed in the contralateral eye after surgery. RESULTS: Forty-five of the 65 patients (69%) obtained excellent results and 67.3% had improvement in head tilt after surgery. IOOA in the contralateral eye was not observed in any patients before surgery. Postoperative IOOA in the contralateral eye occurred in 9 patients (13.8%) and a diagnosis of masked bilateral SOP was made in 1 patient (1.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The graded IO recession procedures are considered to be an effective surgical method for the treatment of unilateral congenital SOP. However, IOOA or masked bilateral SOP occurring in the contralateral eye was observed in 15.3% of the patients undergoing surgery.

Clinical Manifestations of Inferior Oblique Overaction in Patients with Horizontal Strabismus

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical manifestations of and the surgical success rates in patients with horizontal strabismus and inferior oblique overaction (IOOA). METHODS: The patients included in the present study had received myectomy for correction of IOOA and had at least 3 months of follow-up. The patients were divided into 2 groups; patients who received myectomy and surgery for horizontal strabismus simultaneously (combined group, 74 eyes of 49 patients) and patients who received myectomy only (myectomy group, 29 eyes of 24 patients). Chief complaints, head tilt, bilaterality of IOOA, ocular torsion, and the surgical success rates were analyzed. RESULTS: In the combined group, 51% of the chief complaints were horizontal deviation, and in the myectomy group 42% were upward deviation and 29% were head tilt. Objective head tilt was 29% in the combined group and 54% in the myectomy group and the difference was significant. There was no significant difference statistically in the success rate of myectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of symptoms associated with IOOA in the combined group was lower than in the myectomy group. Therefore, preoperative examination regarding IOOA should be carefully performed in patients who are planning a horizontal strabismus surgery because there was no difference in surgical success rate between the 2 groups, the association with horizontal strabismus may have no effect on the surgical results of IOOA.

Comparación de metoprolol versus clonazepam como tratamiento de primera intención en pacientes con síncope neurocardiogénico / Comparison of metoprolol vs clonazepam as a first treatment choice among patients with neurocardiogenic syncope

Objetivo: Comparar la eficacia de metoprolol versus clonazepam como tratamiento de primera intención en pacientes con síncope neurocardiogénico. Material y métodos: Se llevó a cabo estudio prospectivo, longitudinal y aleatorizado en el que se evaluó el efecto del metoprolol (50 mg dos veces al día) versus clonazepam (0.5 mg una vez al día) sobre la sintomatología asociada a los tres meses y la recurrencia de síncope a 12 meses. La distribución de los datos fue normal, el análisis estadístico se realizó por métodos paramétricos considerándose significancia estadística una p≤0.05. Resultados: De 54 pacientes, 32 fueron tratados con metoprolol y 22 con clonazepam. No hubo diferencias en las características basales entre ambos grupos. El número de síntomas por paciente se redujo en el grupo de metoprolol de 5.2±2.5 a 1.9±2.1 (p<0.001), y en el grupo de clonazepam de 5.5±2.5 a 1.5±2.2 (p<0.001). La recurrencia de síncope a los 12 meses fue de 10% en el primer grupo y de 5% en el grupo de clonazepam, sin diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones: El tratamiento con metoprolol o clonazepam disminuye en forma significativa los síntomas de distonía neurovegetativa asociados y la recurrencia de síncope es similar con ambos tratamientos.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of a metoprolol and clonazepam in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope. METHODS: We compared the effects of a metoprolol and clonazepam in a prospective, randomised trial in 54 patients. Patients were randomly assigned to metoprolol (starting dose 50 mg bid) or clonazepam (starting dose 0.5 mg qd). We assessed a primary combined endpoint of syncope and pre-syncope on a follow-up of 12 months. RESULTS: The primary combined endpoint of syncope and presyncope occurred in the metoprolol group in 3, 4, and 10% of patients at 3, 6, and 12 months respectively. In the clonazepam group it was no recurrence in the first 6 months, and 5% recurrence at 12 months follow-up (nonsignificant differences between groups). Clinical symptoms commonly associated with neurally mediated syncope were decreased similarly in both treatment groups, in the metoprolol group from 5.2+/-2.5 to 1.9+/-2.1 (p < 0.001) and in the clonazepam group from 5.5+/-2.5 to 1.5+/-2.2 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological treatment of neurocardiogenic syncope with metoprolol or clonazepam resulted in similar prevention of syncope and presyncope. Both treatments decreased clinical symptoms but complete symptomatic resolution was rarely observed.

The Effect of Myectomy on the Grading of Overaction of the Inferior Oblique Muscle

PURPOSE: This study assesses the surgical results of inferior oblique myectomy on the degree of overaction in patients with overaction greater than +2 of the inferior oblique muscle. METHODS: Seventy eyes of 54 patients underwent an inferior oblique myectomy and at least 6 months of follow-up. Patients with contracture of the superior rectus muscle or dissociated vertical deviation were excluded. The chief complaints, preoperative and postoperative degrees of overaction of the inferior oblique muscle, the angle of hypertropia, and head tilt were analyzed. RESULTS: Deviation of the eyeball (38.9%) and head tilt (25.9%) were the most common complaints. Overall, the success rate was 91.4%, and the likelihood of success decreased with increasing severity of overaction of the inferior oblique muscle. The angle of hypertropia reduced from 11.9 (Prism diopters, PD) preoperatively to 2.2PD postoperatively (p=0.000). Preoperative head tilting was seen in 20 patients (37%) and all saw postoperative improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Inferior oblique myectomy is effective in treating the overaction of the inferior oblique muscle without contracture of the superior rectus muscle or dissociated vertical deviation, especially in patients with greater than +2 overaction of the inferior oblique muscle.

Head Tilt and Facial Asymmetry in Congenital Muscular Torticollis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze head tilt and facial asymmetry in congenital muscular torticollis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 37 cases (mean age: 8.5 years) of congenital muscular torticollis [23 operative cases (14 bipolar release, 9 unipolar release) and 14 non-operative cases] were reviewed. Measurements included: head tilt, horizontal facial asymmetry angle, midfacial asymmetry angle on photographs; craniovertical angle, orbital plane-cranial horizontal line angle on cephalograms; and the angle between two reference lines connecting the mastoid processes and the spinous processes on C-spine radiographs. RESULTS: The results in both operative/non-operative groups were measured as follows: mean head tilt of 6.6 degrees/4.3 degrees, mean horizontal facial asymmetry angle of 3.4 degrees/1.9 degrees, mean midfacial asymmetry angle of 3.2 degrees/2.4 degreeson photographs; mean head tilt of 17.1 degrees/4.7 degreeson C-spine radiographs; mean craniovertical angle of 2.9 degrees/2.1 degrees, mean orbital plane-cranial horizontal line angle of 3.3 degrees/2.0 degreeson cephalograms. CONCLUSION: The facial asymmetry in congenital muscular torticollis become more severe with increased age at treatment and with a more severe head tilt. Horizontal facial asymmetry around the orbits is more distinctive than midfacial asymmetry in torticollis-related facial asymmetry.

Clinical Evaluation of Superior Oblique Muscle PalsyAssociated with Horizontal Deviation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to provide useful clinical information for proper diagnosis of the superior oblique muscle palsy (SOP) associated with horizontal deviation. METHODS: The records of 186 patients with SOP treated surgically were reviewed. The patients who underwent surgery for horizontal deviation more than 10 PD were classified into SOP associated with horizontal deviation. RESULTS: Of 186 patients with SOP, 96 (51.6%) patients also showed horizontal deviation. In 59 patients (61.5%) of these 96 patients, chief complaint was horizontal deviation only and 24 patients (25.0%) knew their hyperdeviation. Compensatory head-tilt was shown in 52 patients (54.2%), however only 11 (11.5%) patients complained their head-tilt posture. Of 96 patients, 72 (82.3%) had horizontal deviation in the eye contralateral to the paretic eye and amblyopia occurred in the horizontally deviated eye. The frequency of exodeviation was 82.3 % and was more than that of esodeviation. The mean amount of hyperdeviation was 12.6 +/- 6.77 PD, and that of horizontal deviation was 22.9 +/- 8.13 PD in exodeviation and 22.5 +/- 9.17 PD in esodeviation, respectively ninety three patients (96.9%) showed positive Bielschowsky head-tilt test. All 83 patients who had fundus examination showed foveal extorsion. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that Bielschowsky head-tilt test and fundus examination for foveal extorsion are needed to diagnose SOP which is masked by prominent horizontal deviation.

Surgical Results of Classic Harada-Ito Procedure with Intraoperative Adjustment for Excyclotorsion

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of classic Harada-Ito procedure with intraoperative adjustment for excyclotorsion. METHODS: This study represents a retrospective review of 22 patients surgically treated for the diagnosis of excyclotorsion with abnormal head posture between January 1995 and August 2001. Head tilt, facial asymmetry, diplopia and excyclotorsion were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Intraoperative adjustment was made by observing the torsional position of the fundus with indirect ophthalmoscopy. Cyclotropia was measured with the Maddox double-rod test or fundus photography with the eyes in primary and down gaze. RESULTS: Causes of excyclotorsion were congenital (7 patients, 32%), trauma (11 patients, 50%)and idiopathic (4 patients, 18%). Of the 22 patients, 19 patients had a head tilt toward the nonparetic side and the others paretic side. Head tilt was uniformly eliminated in 19 of 22 patients (86%). Six of 22 patients had facial asymmertry. After surgical correction, facial asymmetry gradually disappeared in 2 congenital patients. Preoperatively fourteen of 22 patients had diplopia. Postoperatively, eighth of patients had no diplopia and the others had improved of the symptom except one case. The median measured value change of excyclotorsion before and after the surgery in the primary position was reduced from 7.2+/-5.2degrees to 1.7+/-2.8degrees (76%) and 5.3+/-2.2degrees to 0.4+/-1.1degrees in congenital patients, from 8.9+/- 6.6degrees to 1.5+/-2.6degrees in trauma and from 6.0+/-3.4degrees to 4.3+/-4.2degrees in idiopathic. In downgaze, the median measured value change from 10.9+/-5.3degrees to 2.9+/-3.3degrees (73%) and 7.0+/-3.9degrees to 1.1+/-3.0degrees in congenital patients, from 13.2+/-5.7degrees to 3.2+/-3.0degrees in trauma and from 11.5+/-1.0degrees to 5.0+/-4.1degrees in idiopathic. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative adjustable classic Harada-Ito procedure was an effective treatment in correcting head tilt, facial asymmetry and diplopia.

Concomitant Hypertropia with Intermittent Exotropia

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and characteristics of vertical deviation in the intermittent exotropia. METHODS: Fifty consecutive intermittent exotropes over age of 5 were prospectively studied. Patients with any significant ocular and neurologic abnormalities or orbital anatomic abnormalities, definite oblique dysfunction with A or V pattern were excluded. Ophthalmologic evaluation included visual acuity, ocular movements, measurements of angle of deviation by prism cover test, Bielschowsky head tilt test, stereoacuity test, and fundus observation for torsion by indirect ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS: We found that 27 children(54%) had concomitant hypertropia in primary position. Mean amount of hypertropia was 4.81 PD(range: 2~20 PD). Thirty nine children(78%) showed positive Bielschowsky head tilt test. No objective torsion was observed. No inferior oblique overaction was found except for only 2 patients. All subjects had good visual acuity and stereopsis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of vertical deviation in the intermittent exotropia is much higher than expected. All of the vertical deviations show positive Bielschowsky head tilt test.

Effect of Superior Oblique Tuck Surgery in the Patients with Unilateral Superior Oblique Palsy

This study was conducted to assess the amount of superior oblique tuck surgery and the corrected amount of vertical strabismus and head tilt after superior oblique tuck surgery in patients with unilateral superior oblique palsy.Superior oblique tuck surgery was performed on 13 patients with unilateral superior oblique palsy, which corresponded to the second or the third type with hypertropia of 25 PD (prism diopters)or less of Knapp classification. The mean preoperative vertical deviation was 17.8 PD and the mean postoperative vertical deviation was 8.8 PD:the mean corrected amount of vertical deviation was 9.0 PD.Head tilt, which had been observed in 10 (77%)patients preoperatively, improved by over 5 degrees, head tilt in 5 (50%)of them postoperatively.The results suggest that superior oblique tuck surgery may as well be combined with ipsilat eral inferior oblique weakening or with ipsilateral or contralateral vertical rectus muscle surgery in unilateral superior oblique palsy patients with the amount of vertical deviation of 15 PD or more.

Facial Asymmetry and Head Tilting in Superior Oblique Palsy

We identified facial asymmetry in 81 patients with a history of long standing head tilt due to congenital or early childhood onset superior oblique palsy(SOP). To determine facial asymmetry, full frontal photographs of face were taken for each patient in a straight ahead position. They were also evaluated for skull molding, sleeping habit and degree of head tilt. Facial asymmetry was noted in 62 of 81(76.5%) patients with early onset superior oblique palsy. Eighteen of 36(50%) patients with facial asymmetry had skull molding and sleeping habit to lay down on the one side of head. Incidence of facial asymmetry was high in patients with head tilt. In addition, one of 3(33.3%) patient less than 24 months of age showed constant head tilt and facial asymmetry. After surgical correction of superior oblique palsy, head tilt was eliminated and facial asymmetry gradually disappeared. Facial asymmetry was found in 5 of 9(55.6%) patients between 2 and 3 years of age, and in 25 of 28(89.3%) patients more than 3 years of age. Fortunately it gradually improved at the long term follow-up. This study shows that the facial asymmetry cold be produced by chronic head tilt from even less than 2 years of age. Skull molding may develop in infants who prefer to sleep on one side of head. To prevent the development of facial asymmetry, early surgery less than 2 years of age may be needed. Monitoring of head position during sleep may be important to prevent skull molding. If head tilt persist even after surgical correction of SOP, secondary scoliosis, contracture of the neck muscle or habit should be considered and physical therapy may be needed.

Digital Videographic Measurement of Cyclotorsional Angle in Normal Human Eye

The eyeball movement is classified into horizontal, vertical movement and cyclotorsion. The cyclotorsion has been known to be induced by two oblique and vertical rectus muscles. But there have been few precise methods for the measurement of cyclotorsion. So, we tried to find the precise method for the measurement of cyclotorsion with digital videographic method. Sixteen normal volunteers were included in this study, who had no eyeball movement disorders. For the measurement of cyclotorsion that followed by head tilt, the volunteers haed was tilted to fifteen, thirty, forty-five and sixty degree to the left and the partially compensated counter torsion was recorded with video camera. The movement was analyzed with digitally using IBM clone computer. The linear regression equation, between the head tilt and cyclotorsion was Y=2.019 X + 22.2280 (Y=head tilt, X=cyclotorsion) and coefficient of variation(%) was 0.88%. Therefore, our videographic method for the measurement of cyclotorsion was relatively precise and may be applied in the measurement of ocular torsion.

An Efficacy of Head Tilt Test in the Patients with Unilateral Superior Oblique Palsy

Head tilt test is useful in diagnosing cyclovertical muscle palsy, especially superior oblique palsy, In this study, we observed efficacy and pattern of head tilt test in 12 patients of unilateral superior oblique palsy(7 congenital, 4 traumatic and 1 vascular) who had abnormal head tilt to nonparetic side. The results of head tilt test were compared to preoperative status in 8 patient, 3 month after surgery. All patients in this study showed positive response of head tilt test. Among them, 9 patients showed definite elevation of paretic eye. However, 2 patients mainly showed definite depression of nonparetic eyes that were amblyopic. The last patient did not show definite vertical deviation in either eye but complained of increasing diplopia. After surgery, abnormal head tilt and positive head tilt response disappeared in 7 patients. In conclusion, preoperative head tilt test is one of the valuable methods in diagnosisng unilateral superior oblique palsy especially in young patients and in those who developed spread of comitance. In addition, the positive head tilt test does no always mean the elevation of paretic eye.

Clinical Manifestation of Abnormal heal Posture

Medical records of one hundred tow patients with abnormal head posture who were seen at our clinic between 1994 and 1997 were reviewed. The mean age was 7.8 years and the abnormal head posture was detected at 2.1 years. Thirty-two of the patients were female and 70 were male. There were 65 cases with face turn, 19 with head tilt, 6 with chin up or down, 7 with combined head posture and 5 with head nodding. In etiologic aspect, there were 60 cases with infantile nystagmus, 18 with paralytic strabismus, 13 with horizontal or vertical strabismus, 5 with Duane`s retraction syndrome and 6 with the others. Infantile nystagmus was the most common etiology of face turn and paralytic strabismus was that of head tilt. Thirty-three among 38 patients who had surgical procedure showed improvement in head posture.