Comparison between bupivacaine injection and mini-tenotomy in the management of horizontal small angle strabismus in children.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcome of bupivacaine (BUP) injection vs mini-tenotomy of extra-ocular muscles in treating small angle horizontal strabismus in children.

METHODS

A prospective comparative study that included a total of 40 patients. Twenty patients received 3 ml of 0.75% Bupivacaine (BUP) injection in both medial recti in case of exotropia and in both lateral recti in case of esotropia. MRI orbit was performed before and 30-60 days' post injection of bupivacaine to estimate changes in muscle size. Mini-tenotomy was done in the other 20 patients, performed on both lateral recti in case of exotropia and on both medial recti in case of esotropia.

RESULTS

Mean change of alignment at the end of 6 months in exotropic patients in bupivacaine group was 5.50 ± 4.10 PD and in esotropia patients 4.00 ± 3.38 PD with an average increase in muscle thickness of 0.12 mm ± 0.08 and 0.13 mm ± 0.09 in exotropia and esotropia, respectively. There was an average increase in volume 23 mm3 ± 17.3 and 17.00 mm3 ± 9.50 in exotropia and esotropia, respectively, as measured with MRI. The mean change of alignment in mini-tenotomy was 5.33 ± 4.12 PD, 5.75 ± 4.95 PD in exotropia and esotropia, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Bupivacaine and mini-tenotomy are safe and effective alternative treatment, that improved eye alignment in 65% of patients with small angle horizontal deviation.