PubMed ID: 15492743
Author(s): Kushner BJ. An evaluation of the semiadjustable suture strabismus surgical procedure. J AAPOS. 2004 Oct;8(5):481-7. Erratum in: J AAPOS. 2005 Apr;9(2):204. PMID 15492743
Journal: Journal Of Aapos : The Official Publication Of The American Association For Pediatric Ophthalmology And Strabismus, Volume 8, Issue 5, Oct 2004
BACKGROUND Muscle slippage is an adverse outcome of strabismus surgery. Its incidence is increased if adjustable sutures are used or if surgery is performed on the inferior or medial rectus muscles. Although there are no firm numbers for this complication, studies have suggested incidence rates between 7% and 41% when adjustable suture surgery is performed on the inferior rectus muscle. In theory, the semiadjustable suture procedure should decrease this adverse outcome. This procedure involves suturing the corners of the muscle firmly to the sclera and placing the center of the muscle on an adjustable suture. This study evaluates semiadjustable suture surgery with respect to muscle slippage.
METHODS The primary treatment group consisted of 57 patients who underwent semiadjustable suture surgery on a total of 61 muscles that either had never previously undergone surgery or had undergone surgery and had not previously slipped postoperatively. Fifty-five were inferior rectus muscles and 6 were medial rectus muscles. An additional 7 patients had semiadjustable suture surgery on muscles that had slipped after prior surgery and were analyzed separately. The outcome evaluation was at least 6 months after surgery.
RESULTS None of the 57 patients in the primary treatment group demonstrated muscle slippage after semiadjustable suture surgery. One of the 7 patients who had history of prior muscle slippage also had slippage after semiadjustable suture surgery.
CONCLUSION The semiadjustable suture procedure appears to decrease the incidence of muscle slippage.