Transcaruncular rectus tendon fixation to the orbit and frontalis flap for complete third nerve palsy

To describe our experience and outcomes managing complete third cranial nerve palsy.

This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of 7 consecutive patients treated at our centre for unilateral third nerve palsy over the period 2010-2016. We describe our surgical approach using a frontalis muscle flap to correct the eyelid ptosis associated with medial fixation of the rectus muscle tendon to the orbit to correct the horizontal deviation.

The seven patients, four women and three men, were of mean age of 44 ± 19 years [18-75 years]. Follow up was 29 ± 31 months [5-82 months]. In the preoperative exam, exotropia in prism diopters (PD) was -70 ± -28 PD [-30 to -90 PD]. At the end of follow up, this was reduced to -11 ± -14 PD [0 to -30 PD]. Preoperative marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1) was -4 ± 1 mm [-3 to -5 mm] and palpebral fissure height (PFH) was 0.5 ± 1 mm [0-2 mm]. Surgical undercorrection was the target in all patients due to the absent or poor Bell's phenomenon. At the end of follow up, MRD1 was 2.5 ± 0.5 mm [2-3 mm] and PFH was 7 ± 1 mm [6-8 mm]. Cosmetic and functional results were good in all patients.

Medial fixation of the rectus muscle tendon to the orbit associated with a frontalis muscle flap is a valid option for the treatment of exotropia and ptosis in patients with third cranial nerve palsy.