Does inferior oblique recession cause overcorrections in laterally incomitant small hypertropias due to superior oblique palsy?

AIM: To evaluate the effects of inferior oblique muscle recession (IOR) in cases of laterally incomitant hypertropia <10 prism dioptres (PD) in central gaze thact 2t are clinically consistent with superior oblique palsy (SOP). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with SOP and hypertropias <10 PD in central gaze who underwent graded IOR. Primary outcomes were reduction of lateral incomitance and number of overcorrections in central gaze. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included. Mean follow-up was 13.8 months (range 1.4-66). Mean central gaze hypertropia decreased from 5.6±2.1 to 0.2±1.6 PD (p<0.001). Contralateral gaze hypertropia decreased from 15.9±7.6 to 2.3±3.3 PD (p<0.001). Lateral incomitance (central vs contralateral gaze) was 10.3±6.9 PD preoperatively and 2.0±3.0 PD postoperatively (p<0.001). There were two patients overcorrected in central gaze, and one patient overcorrected in downgaze. One patient necessitated further surgery for overcorrection. CONCLUSIONS: Although small hypertropias can be treated with prisms or small, adjustable inferior rectus recessions, IOR collapses incomitance without causing much overcorrection. IOR is a reasonable treatment for small, laterally incomitant hypertropia due to SOP.

Surgical results of patients with unilateral superior oblique palsy presenting with large hypertropias.

PURPOSE: Surgical management of superior oblique palsy (SOP) is challenging because of combined vertical, horizontal, and torsional misalignment. The authors report the surgical results of patients with large primary position hypertropias (> 20 prism diopters [PD]) due to unilateral SOP. METHODS: Criteria for success included correction of the anomalous head posture, primary position alignment between orthotropia and 6 PD of undercorrection, and no reoperation required for residual deviations in any direction of gaze. RESULTS: Forty-five patients met inclusion criteria. Mean preoperative alignment in primary gaze was 26.5 ± 6.5 PD compared to 3.0 ± 4.4 PD postoperatively (P < .001). Twenty-three (51%) cases met the criteria for success with one operation. Of the patients who had single muscle surgery, 14% had a successful outcome, with a mean 67% (17.3 PD) reduction in hypertropia. Of patients who underwent simultaneous multiple muscle surgery, 58% met the criteria for a successful result, with a mean 92% (24.6 PD) reduction in primary gaze hypertropia. Success was the highest in patients who underwent ipsilateral inferior oblique combined with contralateral inferior rectus recessions with (60% success) or without (65% success) a Harada-Ito procedure. CONCLUSION: Undercorrections are frequent following surgery for unilateral SOP with preoperative deviations greater than 20 PD in primary position, especially after single-muscle surgery. Simultaneous multiple muscle surgery rarely results in overcorrection and is recommended in patients with SOP and more than 20 PD of hypertropia in primary position.

Medial rectus recession after vertical rectus transposition in patients with esotropic Duane syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe preoperative characteristics and postoperative results among patients with esotropic Duane syndrome who underwent vertical rectus transposition with vs without subsequent medial rectus recession (MRR). METHODS: Clinical records were compared of patients with esotropic Duane syndrome who underwent vertical rectus transposition with (study group) vs without (control group) subsequent MRR. RESULTS: Twenty-three study group members and 26 control group members were identified. Preoperative characteristics that differed between groups were the mean (SD) primary position deviation (20 [7] prism diopters of esotropia [ΔET] for the study group vs 15 [9] ΔET for the control group, P = .002) and the mean (SD) adduction deviation (1.4 [4.0] ΔET for the study group vs 2.5 [4.0] Δ exotropia for the control group, P = .04). Forced duction testing (FDT) revealed greater restriction to abduction (17 [7]° for the study group vs 23 [6]° for the control group, P = .002). After vertical rectus transposition, study group members had significantly greater mean (SD) ET (16 [7] ΔET vs 0.4 [0.6] ΔET for the control group, P < .001) and torticollis (10 [4]° vs 1 [5]° for the control group, P < .001) and significantly less mean (SD) abduction (-3.0 [-0.6] vs -2.0 [-0.7] for the control group, P = .20). After MRR, no significant difference was observed between groups in primary position deviation, but the study group had significantly less mean (SD) adduction (-1.0 [-0.8] vs -0.4 [-0.6] for the control group, P < .003). CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for requiring MRR after vertical rectus transposition include greater ET in the primary position and in the adducting field of gaze, as well as greater restriction to abduction on intraoperative FDT. Postoperative results of patients who required MRR were similar to those of patients who did not require MRR.

Binocular visual function in patients with Boston type I keratoprostheses.

PURPOSE: To report the postoperative binocular function of patients with Boston type I keratoprostheses implantation for unilateral visual impairment. METHODS: Seventeen patients who underwent implantation of a Boston type I keratoprosthesis and had a best-corrected visual acuity better than 20/50 in the contralateral eye before surgery were evaluated. All subjects prospectively underwent sensory testing of binocular function including Bagolini lenses, Worth-4-dot test, stereoacuity at distance and near, and double Maddox rods. In addition, an assessment of ocular rotations and alignment was performed on each subject. RESULTS: Twenty patients with best-corrected visual acuity better than 20/50 in the contralateral eye at the time of keratoprothesis surgery were identified. Seventeen of the 20 patients underwent binocular visual testing, with 16 of 17 (94%) demonstrating binocular function. Second-degree fusion at near was demonstrated via the Worth-4-dot test in 13 of 17 (76%) patients. Third-degree fusion at near was demonstrated in 7 of 17 (41%) patients. Patients with better postoperative sensory binocular function tended to be of younger age (P = 0.05) and have better postoperative visual acuity (P = 0.006). Five patients were found to have some degree of ocular misalignment. Overall, patients with strabismus had worse binocularity (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of the Boston type I keratoprosthesis in patients with good preoperative visual acuity in the fellow eye is associated with useful binocular function in greater than 90% of patients.

Long-term results of the surgical management of intermittent exotropia.

PURPOSE: To examine long-term surgical success rates (>10 years) for patients with intermittent exotropia and the risk factors for failure of surgery in these patients. METHODS: An attempt was made to contact all patients who underwent surgical treatment for intermittent exotropia between the years of 1970 to 1998 with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 10 years. Each patient underwent a detailed sensory and motor examination, including measurements of near and distance stereoacuity, cover testing, and ocular rotations. Patients were classified as achieving an excellent, fair, or poor outcome on the basis of motor and sensory outcomes. Risk factor analysis was performed to evaluate associations with a poor outcome and reoperations. RESULTS: Of 197 patients identified, 50 were reevaluated. When combined motor/sensory criteria for surgical success were used, we found that 38% of patients achieved an excellent outcome, whereas 34% and 28% achieved a fair or poor outcome, respectively. When only the motor criteria were used, we found that 64% had an excellent outcome, whereas the remaining patients achieved either a fair (18%) or a poor (18%) outcome. During the follow-up period, 60% of patients required at least one reoperation. Multivariate risk factor analysis determined that anisometropia (p = 0.03) was associated with a poor outcome, whereas postoperative undercorrection (p = 0.04) and lateral incomitance (p = 0.06) were associated with reoperations. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term surgical results in intermittent exotropia are less encouraging when sensory status is added to the evaluation. Patients with anisometropia, lateral incomitance, and immediate postoperative undercorrection are at increased risk for poor outcomes and to require reoperations.

Management of vertical deviations after vertical rectus transposition surgery.

PURPOSE: To describe options for the management of vertical deviations after vertical rectus muscle transposition surgery (VRT). METHODS: Retrospective case series including 7 children who underwent VRT for esotropic Duane syndrome and developed the complication of a vertical deviation. RESULTS: Eighty-two consecutive children underwent VRT for Duane syndrome. Seven eyes of 7 patients (4 boys, 3 girls) were found to have induced vertical deviations postoperatively. Average length of follow-up was 12.7 months (range, 3-28 months). Median induced vertical deviation was 10.1(Delta) (range, 8-12). All patients required only one additional surgery to ameliorate the vertical deviation. At final follow-up, the mean vertical tropic deviation was 0. Six patients were operated on within 4 days of VRT. Surgical strategies included recession of one vertical rectus muscle and repositioning of a posterior fixation suture. CONCLUSIONS: In children undergoing VRT for esotropic Duane syndrome, the complication of a vertical deviation occurred in 8.5% of cases. The vertical deviation was completely ameliorated in each case by one surgical procedure involving recession of one of the transposed muscles.

Decreased postoperative drift in intermittent exotropia associated with A and V patterns.

INTRODUCTION: Few data exist concerning postoperative drift in patients with intermittent exotropia who have coexistent A or V patterns. In addition, the impacts of pattern collapse and surgical method on postoperative drift have not been well addressed. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 132 patients who had surgery for intermittent exotropia and had >or=6 months' follow-up. Mean postoperative drift in 66 patients with pattern exotropia was compared with a nonpattern (comitant) group matched for surgeon, age, surgical method, and initial deviation. Postoperative drift was calculated by subtracting the deviation at postoperative day 1 from that at approximately 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months, and >1 year. RESULTS: Pattern and comitant groups were similar in mean +/- SD age (15 +/- 17 years), follow-up (2.3 +/- 2 years), preoperative exotropia (23(Delta) +/- 11(Delta)), initial postoperative deviation (1(Delta) +/- 5(Delta) esotropia), and surgical technique. Patients with pattern intermittent exotropia showed significantly (p < 0.02) less exotropic drift postoperatively at all times than did patients without a pattern. In contrast to undercorrected patients, in those who were sufficiently overcorrected, the effect of pattern became statistically insignificant after 6 months. Patients with persisting postoperative patterns had a significantly less postoperative drift (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Postoperative drift in patients with A- or V-pattern intermittent exotropia is consistently less than in comitant exotropia, particularly if the pattern persists postoperatively and if the exotropia is undercorrected. Therefore, surgeons should consider smaller early overcorrections in pattern than comitant intermittent exotropia. Lesser postoperative drift in pattern exotropia may suggest differing underlying causes of pattern vs nonpattern exotropia.

Lemierre's syndrome with fourth nerve palsy.

Lemierre's syndrome is characterized by acute oropharyngeal infection with secondary internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis and subsequent metastatic infections. The anaerobe Fusobacterium necrophorum is the usual etiologic agent, although other microorganisms, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Bacteroides, and Lactobacilli, may be present alone or in combination with F. necrophorum. Common sites of metastatic infection include the lungs and joints. Thromboembolic complications, such as septic pulmonary embolism, persistent jugular vein occlusion, hepatic abscesses, and nephropathy, may occur. We report a case of Lemierre's syndrome in a 3-year-old Caucasian boy who subsequently presented with manifestations of a fourth (trochlear) nerve palsy.

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates reduced inferior oblique muscle size in isolated inferior oblique palsy.

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of isolated inferior oblique muscle palsy is controversial for 2 reasons: first, clinical findings seem inconsistent with our current understanding of oculomotor neuroanatomy and, second, similar findings can occur with other causes. Because denervated extraocular muscles atrophy, we used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess inferior oblique muscle size in patients with clinically suspected inferior oblique muscle palsy. METHODS: A diagnosis of inferior oblique muscle palsy in 6 patients (4 unilateral, 2 bilateral) was made clinically. High-resolution coronal and sagittal orbital MRI were obtained in subjects with clinical inferior oblique muscle palsy and in 30 age-matched control subjects. Cross sections of the inferior oblique, inferior rectus (IR), and medial rectus muscles were determined together because each is innervated by the common inferior division of the oculomotor nerve. No subject had pupillary abnormalities or other extraocular muscle weakness or restriction. RESULTS: Mean cross-sectional area of the affected inferior oblique muscle (n = 8) at the midpoint of the inferior rectus muscle was 10.2 +/- 1.05 mm(2), which was significantly smaller than the value of 18.8 +/- 3.6 mm(2) for control subjects (n = 58, p < 0.00001). Unilaterally affected inferior oblique muscles were significantly smaller than unaffected inferior oblique muscles (p < 0.05). Mean medial rectus muscle cross section (n = 8) ipsilateral to the affected inferior oblique muscle was 36.8 +/- 2.4 mm(2), which was not significantly different from the 35.1 +/- 3.7 mm(2) value for the medial rectus muscles of control subjects (n = 61, p > 0.1). Mean inferior rectus muscle cross section (n = 8) ipsilateral to the affected inferior oblique muscle was 32.5 +/- 2.3 mm(2), which was significantly greater than the 29.9 +/- 3.3 mm(2) measurement for the control subjects (n = 61, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We used MRI to demonstrate reduced inferior oblique muscle size in patients with clinically diagnosed inferior oblique muscle palsy, supporting the concept of isolated inferior oblique muscle weakness.

Surgical treatment of strabismus secondary to glaucoma drainage device.

OBJECTIVE: To describe surgical strategies in a series of patients with diplopia following implantation of a glaucoma drainage device. METHODS: Retrospective review of 9 consecutive patients who underwent strabismus surgery because of strabismus and diplopia after implantation of a glaucoma drainage device. RESULTS: Seven patients with marked limitation to ocular rotations and incomitant strabismus underwent surgery on the eye with the implant. Two patients with mild limitation to ocular rotations of the involved eye underwent surgery on the contralateral eye. All patients had a large fibrous capsule surrounding the implant plate, adjacent muscles, and sclera. Intraocular pressure was not elevated postoperatively. Postoperative diplopia in the primary position was eliminated in 5 patients and markedly improved in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus following implantation of a glaucoma drainage device is an uncommon but serious complication. Restoration of ocular alignment is a complex undertaking requiring strabismus and glaucoma surgical expertise. Multiple surgical complications may occur. Surgical intervention may require complete removal of the fibrous capsule surrounding the implant and involved adjacent structures. Size reduction of the implant plate is helpful and did not interfere with postoperative intraocular pressure control in this study. Surgery on the contralateral eye is an option in patients with mild restriction.

Changes in binocular alignment after surgery for concomitant and pattern intermittent exotropia.

INTRODUCTION: Although early post-surgical over-correction for intermittent exotropia is widely advised, post-operative drift has not been well quantified in concomitant intermittent exotropia, and has not been described specifically with A and V patterns. While such patterns have been proposed to result from abnormal locations of the rectus muscle pulleys, others have suggested that A and V patterns may result from the disruption of fusion arising from exotropia itself. METHODS: We prospectively performed Hess screen analysis in 20 exotropic patients (mean age 42 +/- 16 yrs) before and two to six times after strabismus surgery, with a post-operative follow-up of 2-108 weeks. Primary surgery cases included medial rectus resection (2) and lateral rectus recession (10), combined resection/recession (6), and superior oblique tenectomy (2). Alignment trends in primary and secondary gazes were analyzed for concomitant, pattern, and re-operated subgroups. Results were also analyzed by type of surgery performed. RESULTS: Mean pre-operative central gaze exotropia was 8.6 +/- 7.1 degrees . Twelve cases were concomitant, while 8 exhibited A or V patterns. Twelve cases were re-operations. In initial surgery for concomitant exotropia, there was a well-defined exotropic drift approaching 5 degrees by 30 weeks post-operatively (linear regression, r = 0.43, p = 0.01). There was similar exo drift in re-operations. However, in pattern exotropia, post-operative drift was more variable, with mean esotropic drift of approximately 5 degrees (r = 0.18, p = 0.43). For all patients, final post-operative central gaze exotropia was 1.9 +/- 5.8 degrees , with significant pattern collapse (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: Post-operative exo-shift of about 5 degrees occurs in initial and re-operated concomitant exotropia. However, in A and V patterns, there is no definitive direction of post-operative drift, suggesting that pattern strabismus may be more likely due to mechanical factors in the orbit than to neural factors associated with fusion disruption. CONCLUSIONS: Alignment following strabismus surgery differs in concomitant vs. pattern exotropia. Initial over-correction of about 5 degrees is advisable for concomitant exotropia, but should be avoided in A and V patterns.

Superior oblique anterior tenectomy.

PURPOSE: To describe a surgical approach to selectively weaken the anterior cyclotorsional fibers of the superior oblique muscle in subjects with incyclotorsion. METHODS: Retrospective review of five consecutive subjects with diplopia and incyclotorsion who underwent unilateral tenectomy of the anterior fibers of the superior oblique alone or in combination with surgery on another horizontal or vertical rectus muscle. RESULTS: The mean preoperative incyclotorsion was 7.2 degrees . The mean postoperative follow-up was 4 months. Superior oblique anterior tenectomy corrected 5.2 degrees of incyclotorsion. No patient developed pattern strabismus induced vertical deviation or diplopia due to excyclotorsion postoperatively. The mean incyclotorsion present at the last follow-up was 2 degrees . Torsional diplopia persisted in two (40%) subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior tenectomy of the superior oblique tendon at the insertion may be helpful in subjects with incyclotorsion who have no vertical deviation in the primary position or in whom there is risk of pattern anisotropia or anterior segment ischemia by operating upon vertical rectus muscles.

Incomitant esotropia following pterygium excision surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical characteristics and treatment of subjects with incomitant esotropia following unilateral pterygium excision. METHODS: A retrospective review of 6 consecutive patients who developed incomitant esotropia, limited abduction, and diplopia following unilateral pterygium excision surgery. RESULTS: The mean preoperative deviation was 6 prism diopters (PD) (range, 0-25 PD) in the primary position and 13.8 PD (range, 6-25 PD) in the abducting field of the involved eye. Four patients underwent simultaneous surgery on the conjunctiva-perimuscular connective tissue complex and the medial rectus muscle. One subject had conjunctival-perimuscular connective tissue complex surgery alone. Postoperatively, all patients had orthotropia in the primary position and the deviation in the abducting field was improved to 5.2 PD (range, 0-14 PD). CONCLUSIONS: Incomitant esotropia is an uncommon but serious complication following pterygium excision surgery. Medial rectus muscle recession combined with scar tissue removal is required to eliminate diplopia in the primary position. Conjunctiva-perimuscular scar tissue removal may suffice to improve diplopia in the abduction gaze position.

Inferior oblique muscle fixation to the orbital wall: a profound weakening procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent or persistent inferior oblique overaction may occur after inferior oblique (IO) recession or anterior transposition. IO nasal and temporal myectomy and anterior-nasal transposition may result in undesirable IO palsy, exotropia, incyclotorsion, or limitation of elevation. Previous studies have shown that a rectus extraocular muscle may be profoundly weakened if the muscle insertion is reattached to adjacent orbital periosteum. We describe a reversible profound weakening surgical procedure of the IO muscle. METHODS: A total of 10 consecutive subjects with V-pattern strabismus and/or IO overaction underwent IO orbital fixation procedure by attaching its insertion to the periosteum of the lateral orbital wall. One subject was not included because short follow-up. Five subjects with persistent IO overaction after IO anterior transposition underwent bilateral IO orbital wall fixation. Four subjects with no previous IO surgery underwent unilateral IO orbital wall fixation; 3 of these 4 subjects had superior oblique palsy with a large vertical deviation in primary position and 1 had a V pattern with asymmetric IO overaction. RESULTS: V pattern significantly improved from 22(Delta) preoperatively to 7(Delta) postoperatively (p = 0.002). IO overaction improved from 2.5 (range, + 1.5 to + 4) to 0.1 (range, -2 to +3) postoperatively (p < 0.001). Six of 9 subjects had no residual overelevation in adduction postoperatively. Unilateral IO orbital fixation corrected 7(Delta) of vertical deviation in the primary position and 23(Delta) in adduction. Mean postoperative follow-up was 5 months. CONCLUSIONS: IO orbital fixation has a profound weakening effect on the IO muscle. Advantages of this procedure include reversibility and that it can be converted into another form of weakening procedure, if required.

Superior oblique muscle paresis and restriction secondary to orbital mucocele.

Mucoceles are chronic cystic lesions of the paranasal sinuses lined by respiratory epithelium. Their extension into the adjacent orbit may result in proptosis, ocular motility disorders, and diplopia. Brown syndrome secondary to extension of a mucocele into the orbit has been reported previously. Superior oblique (SO) muscle weakness, either isolated or in combination with an ipsilateral limitation to elevation in adduction, has not been previously reported in patients with orbital mucocele.

Vertical rectus muscle transposition for bilateral Duane syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Augmented transposition of the superior and inferior rectus muscles to the lateral rectus muscle is effective surgical treatment for esotropia in unilateral Duane syndrome. Medial rectus muscle recession in bilateral Duane syndrome may increase the risk of consecutive exotropia and cause limitation to adduction postoperatively. Vertical rectus muscle transposition may be useful in bilateral Duane syndrome with esotropia. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective review of 11 patients with bilateral Duane syndrome and esotropia in primary position. All patients had vertical rectus muscle transpositions. Six patients had unilateral vertical rectus transpositions (2 eyes with and 4 without suture augmentation). Twelve eyes from 7 children (2 unilateral and 5 bilateral) had transpositions augmented with posterior fixation sutures. Posterior fixation suture were added to large deviations in patients without prior medial rectus recessions. RESULTS: The preoperative esotropia at distance was 22.8 +/- 6.3 prism diopters (PD). It reduced to 2.0 +/- 6.7 PD postoperatively. (P < 0.001) Esotropia at near changed from 21.0 +/- 5.8 PD preoperatively to 1.2 +/- 8.1 PD postoperatively. (P < 0.001) One patient with a 10-degree face turn had complete resolution postoperatively. One patient had a small undercorrection and developed a vertical deviation requiring additional surgery. All patients had improvement in abduction. Nine of 11 patients did not develop any limitation to adduction. One patient developed a -1 adduction deficit 5 years later. Three patients achieved fusion with a mean stereovision of 67 seconds of arc (range, 80-40 seconds.). Follow-up averaged 22.2 months (range, 1-100 months). CONCLUSION: Vertical rectus muscle transposition in patients with bilateral Duane syndrome and esotropia is an effective procedure to improve ocular alignment and motility while preserving adduction.

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates varied anatomic abnormalities in Brown syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Although Brown syndrome classically is considered to be limited to the SO tendon sheath and trochlea, it does not always respond to SO surgery. We investigated mechanisms of Brown syndrome by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Three patients with congenital and 8 with acquired Brown syndrome were compared with matched normal subjects under a prospective protocol of high-resolution, multipositional orbital MRI using surface coils. Muscle size and contractility were determined using digital image analysis. RESULTS: Five of 8 patients with acquired Brown syndrome had a history of trauma or surgery and demonstrated extensive scarring, avulsion, or fracture of the trochlea. One of the 8 had a cyst in the SO tendon. One congenital and one acquired case demonstrated inferior displacement of the lateral rectus (LR) pulley in adduction, with a normal SO tendon-trochlear complex. Such cases of Brown syndrome responded to surgical stabilization of the LR pulley. Two congenital cases had clinical findings of ipsilateral SO palsy confirmed on MRI by atrophy or absence of the SO belly. In congenital absence of the SO belly, the anterior tendon was present but terminated directly on the trochlea. CONCLUSION: High-resolution MRI demonstrates a variety of abnormalities in patients presenting with Brown syndrome, including atrophy or absence of the SO belly. Management in Brown syndrome should be tailored to the pathophysiology of the individual patient.

Extraocular muscle damage associated with endoscopic sinus surgery: an ophthalmology perspective.

BACKGROUND: Orbital complications associated with endoscopic sinus surgery are well documented. Damage to the medial rectus muscle results in complicated strabismus and disturbing diplopia. The aim of this study was to characterize the types of extraocular muscle injury and the number of muscles involved that may complicate endoscopic sinus surgery and correlate its occurrence to factors in the surgical procedure itself. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of 14 patients with strabismus after endoscopic sinus surgery. Operative notes of the surgical procedure, pathology reports of the intraoperative specimens, postoperative pattern of strabismus, the extraocular muscle involved, and the type of muscle injury characterized by orbital imaging were reviewed in each patient. RESULTS: In our series, not only the medial rectus muscle but also the inferior rectus and the superior oblique muscles were damaged with multiple muscles being involved in one patient. Extraocular muscle injury varied from hematoma, entrapment of muscle in the fractured orbital wall, damage to the oculomotor nerve entry zone, muscle transection, and partial or complete muscle destruction with entrapment in scar tissue. Use of the microdebrider causes extensive irreparable muscle damage. CONCLUSION: Extraocular muscle damage complicating endoscopic sinus surgery can produce therapeutically challenging complicated strabismus.

Isolated superior oblique tucking: an effective procedure for superior oblique palsy with profound superior oblique underaction.

PURPOSE: To compare efficacy and complications of isolated unilateral superior oblique tucking in patients with unilateral superior oblique palsy (SOP). METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 24 cases of unilateral SOP, 13 Acquired (group 1), and 11 Congenital (group 2), who underwent isolated unilateral superior oblique tuck over a 13-year period was performed. RESULTS: The mean preoperative vertical deviation in primary gaze was 10 +/- 3 PD for group 1 and 12 +/- 5 PD for group 2 and mean vertical deviation in lateral gaze of affected superior oblique was 19 +/- 5 PD for group 1 and 21 +/- 9 PD for group 2. The mean postoperative vertical deviation in primary gaze for group 1 after a mean follow-up period of 15 +/- 21 months was 1 +/- 3 PD; for group 2 after a mean follow-up period of 17 +/- 13 months was 2 +/- 3 PD, and in lateral gaze of affected superior oblique was 3 +/- 5 PD for group 1 and 5 +/- 6 PD for group 2. The mean correction of vertical deviation in primary gaze at last follow-up was 8 +/- 2 PD for group 1 and 9 +/- 5PD for group 2 ( P > 0.05) and in the lateral gaze field of affected superior oblique muscle was 16 +/- 4 PD for group 1 and 15 +/- 5 PD for group 2 ( P > 0.05). The mean preoperative torsion was 9 +/- 4 degrees for group 1 and 9 +/- 2 degrees for group 2; mean postoperative torsion was 1.2 +/- 2.2 degrees for group 1 and 1 +/- 1 degrees for group 2. The mean torsion corrected for group 1 was 8 +/- 3 degrees and for group 2 was 8 +/- 2 degrees ( P > 0.05). Only one patient in group 1 and three patients in group 2 required reoperation to correct residual deviation. A mild postoperative limitation to elevation in adduction was seen in all cases but was asymptomatic and lessened over time. CONCLUSION: Isolated unilateral superior oblique tucking corrected a large amount of the vertical deviation and torsion with minimal complications in selective patients of both congenital and acquired superior oblique palsy. Superior oblique tucking is a safe and effective procedure and can be considered in patients with SOP meeting selective criteria.

Combined adjustable rectus muscle resection--recession for incomitant strabismus.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to report the results of combined adjustable suture resection and recession of a rectus extraocular muscle in a subset of patients who are asymptomatic in the primary position but diplopic in secondary functional gaze positions. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective chart review of 12 patients who underwent a surgical procedure consisting of combined resection and recession of the same rectus extraocular muscle on adjustable suture, the amount of recession being double the amount of resection. RESULTS: The amount of incomitance reduced from a preoperative mean of 11.6 prism diopters (PD) to a postoperative mean of 2.9 PD. All 4 rectus muscles underwent operation No significant change in the primary position alignment occurred. Diplopia was eliminated in 11 of the 12 patients postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The combined adjustable suture resection and recession operation is an effective and easy procedure for treatment of this subset of patients with incomitant strabismus.