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Adjustable suture strabismus surgery in infants and children
Ahmed Awadein1, Munish Sharma, Marlet G Bazemore
1The Krieger Children's Eye Center at Wilmer Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Insights
Adjustable sutures significantly improve eye muscle surgery success rates in young children. This technique offers better alignment compared to nonadjustable sutures for strabismus correction in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Strabismus Surgery
Background:
- Strabismus surgery aims to correct eye alignment.
- Adjustable suture techniques offer intraoperative or postoperative adjustments.
- Pediatric strabismus management requires precise surgical outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the success rates of adjustable versus nonadjustable suture techniques in horizontal eye muscle surgery.
- To evaluate the efficacy of adjustable sutures in children aged 10 years and younger.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing horizontal eye muscle surgery.
- Comparison of outcomes between adjustable and nonadjustable suture groups.
- Analysis of preoperative measurements, strabismus type, and postoperative alignment.
Main Results:
- The adjustable suture group showed a higher early success rate (79%) compared to the nonadjustable group (64.5%).
- The difference in success rates was statistically significant (p < 0.01).
- Adjustments were performed in 64% of the adjustable group cases without reported complications.
Conclusions:
- Adjustable sutures provide a superior success rate for horizontal eye muscle surgery in children up to 10 years old.
- This technique enhances the precision of eye alignment correction in pediatric strabismus surgery.
Purpose:
To evaluate the success rate of adjustable suture techniques in horizontal eye muscle surgery in children aged 10 years and younger.
Methods:
A retrospective review of children who had horizontal eye muscle surgery at or before the age of 10 years. Patients were divided into 1 of 2 groups according to whether a nonadjustable or an adjustable technique was used. The preoperative measurements, type of strabismus, and postoperative results were analyzed.
Results:
A total of 98 cases in the nonadjustable group and 298 cases in the adjustable group were identified. Early success rate, defined as alignment within 8(Delta) of straight at the end of 3 months, was notably greater in the adjustable group (79%) than in the nonadjustable group (64.5%). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In the adjustable group, adjustment was performed in 64% of the cases, either because of an undercorrection or overcorrection. The adjustment procedure was performed under topical proparacaine in 20% of cases and under intravenous propofol in 80%. No complications were reported during the adjustment procedure.
Conclusions:
The use of adjustable sutures can provide an improved success rate over nonadjustable sutures in eye muscle surgery in children aged 10 years or younger.
