Clinical Analysis of restrictive strabismus secondary to ophthalmic surgery

Background: This study aimed to report the clinical characteristics and surgical methods of restrictive strabismus secondary to ophthalmic surgery. Methods: This retrospective case series covered 14 restrictive strabismus cases secondary to ophthalmic surgery. After evaluation of the clinical history and the basic ophthalmological findings, the following parameters were examined: squint angles (prism with alternative cover test, Krimsky’s test or Maddox cross), ocular motility, duction test and the forced duction test. All paitients underwent surgery, the strabismus surgery included the excision of adhesions and scar tissue, adhesiolysis, medial and lateral ligaments separated, repositioning of extraocular muscles (according to the degree of deviations). We described the clinical characteristics and evaluated the surgical results in strabismus eyes. Results: All patients were satisfied with the results of surgery, obtained anatomical reduction and partial functional recovery. In nine cases with preoperative diplopia, eight cases had no diplopia after surgery and one patient’s diplopia disappeared after the secondary surgery. The other five cases without preoperative diplopia, but had restricted ocular motility, which improved significantly than before surgery. Conclusions: Orbital surgery, trauma, conjunctival surgery, strabismus surgery and so on, can lead to secondary restrictive strabismus surgery. Strabismus surgical treatments including the full removal of the muscles around the scar, adhesiolysis, medial and lateral ligaments separated, eye muscle surgery, can provide excellent results and patient’s satisfaction.

Late recurrence of idiopathic Brown’s syndrome successfully treated with oral corticosteroids

Introduction: Idiopathic Brown’s syndrome is a restrictive strabismus of the superior oblique tendon that often presents in pediatric populations and rarely occurs in adults. Case description: We present here a case of a 41-year-old man with an idiopathic left Brown’s syndrome that recurred after presenting with similar symptoms 14 years prior that was originally treated with oral corticosteroids. This patient had a negative work up for connective tissue disease and only exhibited subtle left trochlear thickening on orbital MRI with contrast. Since he had a good response to oral corticosteroids in the past, this repeat occurrence was treated with oral Prednisone and he promptly responded. His double vision resolved within 2 weeks and he continued to have a normal examination 6 months after presentation. Conclusion: We suspect this case was related to a subclinical inflammatory process resulting in the MRI findings and response to steroids. This case demonstrates that idiopathic Brown’s syndrome can recur more than a decade later in adults and oral corticosteroids are an effective treatment option even in the absence of an underlying rheumatological condition.

Vertical restrictive strabismus associated with proptosis: Similar clinical signs, different etiopathogenetic causes. A report of three patients

Purpose: To report the different uncommon pathogenesis of three cases of severe vertical restrictive strabismus associated with progressive unilateral proptosis with similar clinical features. Methods: Case series of three patients who presented to the Orbit Outpatient Service of Policlinico Gemelli with a history of left progressive unilateral proptosis, slowly worsening vertical strabismus and the left eye fixed in downward position. A thorough hematologic work up was performed. All patients underwent complete abdomen ultrasonography, orbital contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, forced duction test under general anesthesia, and orbital biopsy. Results: Patients were 30, 60, and 46 years old respectively. MRI showed left inferior rectus enlargement in two cases and superior rectus enlargement in one case, with contrast enhanced combined muscle belly and tendon enlargement in all cases. Patients underwent forced duction test, muscle weakening (in two cases), and muscle biopsy with histopathologic examination. The superior rectus appeared infiltrated by an undifferentiated high-grade pleomorphic sarcoma, whereas the two inferior recti were positive for idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease with fibrosis areas and neuromuscular choristoma, respectively. Conclusion: Although proptosis and acquired vertical restrictive strabismus are most commonly associated with thyroid associated orbitopathy (TAO), they can also be a manifestation of many other conditions and the differential diagnosis can be particularly challenging. The three reported cases presented indeed with similar clinical features but had three distinct underlying orbital etiologies, two of which were extremely uncommon.

Forced Duction Test: Is It Necessary after the Scleral Buckling Procedure?

A 14-year-old boy who had ocular motility disorder which started 2 weeks following retinal surgery (scleral buckling) secondary to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, was referred to the strabismus clinic. He had significant ocular movement limitations in adduction and elevation under general anesthesia. The forced duction test (FDT) was positive in both adduction and elevation. After buckle removal, FDT was negative. The eye was orthotropic without ocular movement limitation at final follow-up. In conclusion, FDT at the end of the scleral buckling procedure needs to be performed. It may prevent restrictive strabismus after scleral buckling surgery.

Adjustable Versus Nonadjustable Sutures in Strabismus Surgery—Who Benefits the Most?

Background: Adjustable sutures have been used in strabismus surgery for more than 40 years, but controversy remains regarding their application. This review sought to analyze studies comparing the efficacy of adjustable sutures (AS) and nonadjustable sutures (NAS) in the treatment of different ocular deviations. Materials and Methods: The PubMed literature database was searched using the keywords ‘adjustable sutures’ and ‘strabismus surgery’, yielding a total of 209 results. Only comparative studies were extracted, and the results were divided into three categories: Adult comitant strabismus, childhood comitant strabismus, and paretic/restrictive strabismus. Results: The search revealed eleven comparative studies on AS versus NAS in adult strabismus, including only one randomized controlled trial. Five of these studies analyzed just the postoperative success rate, three studies analyzed just the reoperation rate, two studies analyzed both the postoperative success and reoperation rates, and one study evaluated achievement of the postoperative target angle. Three of seven studies analyzing postoperative success reported the statically significant superiority of AS over NAS, while four of five studies analyzing reoperation rate indicated a significantly smaller percentage of reoperations with the use of AS. The study covering postoperative target angle as an outcome favored the AS technique. Separately, the search revealed three comparative studies on AS versus NAS in childhood strabismus, one of which reported a statistically significant advantage with AS. Only four comparative studies on AS versus NAS in paretic or restrictive strabismus were found; all showed a tendency for better results with the use of AS but not in a statistically significant fashion. Overall, out of 18 studies analyzed in this review, 17 suggested better clinical results followed the application of AS versus NAS; however, only a minority had statistically significant results. Conclusion: The analysis of available research failed to support AS as the preferable surgery technique over NAS in cases of simple and predictive strabismus. Further research is needed to more precisely determine the group of patients able to benefit the most from AS.