Novel superior oblique anterior fiber plication with or without adjustable sliding knot for extorsion

To report a novel surgical technique to correct excyclotropia, consisting of a superior oblique anterior fibers plication (SOAFP) with or without a hemihangback anterior knot, allowing access for postoperative adjustment.

A retrospective interventional case series was conducted. Fourteen patients, 21-92 years of age, underwent SOAFP (18 eyes, 14 eyes on adjustable), at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. SOAFP was the only procedure performed in 12 eyes; in 6 it was performed in conjunction with up to four horizontal rectus muscle recession, resection, and/or plication. Ocular alignment was assessed with prism and alternate cover and double Maddox rod tests; preoperatively, at initial and final (closest to 6-8 weeks) postoperative visits.

Preoperative torsion ranged from 2° to 30° of extorsion (mean, 10.14 ± 7.01). A SOAFP of 2-30 mm (mean, 8.93 ± 5.63) was performed. At the initial postoperative examination, mean intorsional shift was 11.18 ± 7.37, accounting for 1.86° ± 1.04° of correction per millimeter of plication. Three eyes were adjusted after the initial visit to obtain a stronger plication effect targeting of 5° intorsion. At the final visit, 61 ± 23 days postoperatively, mean extorsion was 1.21° ± 2.29°, ranging from 5° of extorsion to 3 of intorsion. Mean final intorsional shift was 9.14 ± 7.53°, accounting for a 1.16 ± 0.50° of correction per millimeter of plication. Of our 14 patients, 13 had improvement in diplopia.

In our study cohort, SOAFP allowed for targeted and easily adjustable correction of extorsion.