Long-Term Sensory and Motor Outcomes for the Treatment of Abnormal Head Posture Secondary to Nystagmus.

PURPOSE: Patients with nystagmus often develop an abnormal head posture (AHP) to optimize fixation at the null point. While certain strabismus procedures have been shown to effectively reduce AHP by shifting the null point closer to primary gaze, the sustainability of these outcomes and impact on vision remains poorly understood. This study evaluates long-term motor and sensory outcomes of extraocular muscle surgery targeting AHP in patients with nystagmus and reports on the impact of best corrected visual acuity and surgery to address concurrent strabismus on these outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, interventional case series SUBJECTS: Diagnostic and procedural coding queries were used to identify all patients with nystagmus and torticollis treated from 2014 to 2023. Patients confirmed to have a history of extraocular muscle surgery targeting AHP and complete sensorimotor examinations were included. Surgery modified to address concurrent strabismus did not result in exclusion.

INTERVENTION: Strabismus surgery to reduce anomalous head posture.

PRIMARY OUTCOME: Motor success was defined as a postsurgical AHP ≤ 10°, and sensory alteration defined as change of ≥2 octaves (≥0.6 log arcsec).

RESULTS

Forty patients met inclusion criteria with a median follow-up of 38 months (interquartile range [IQR], 12-56 months). AHP decreased from a median of 30° (IQR 20°-40°) preoperatively to 5° (IQR 0°-10°) postoperatively (P < .001). A successful motor outcome was achieved in 73% of patients at 3 months, 71.4% at 2 years, and 77.5% at the last evaluation, with no significant change over time (P = .663). Simultaneous strabismus repair did not alter the likelihood of a successful reduction in AHP (P = .697). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≥20/40 was associated with successful reduction in AHP in 95% compared to only 58% for patients with BCVA <20/40 (P = .007). Stereoacuity assessment, available for 29/40 (72.5%) of patients, showed stability in 27 (93%) and improvement in 2 (7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Strabismus surgery effectively and durably reduced AHP for at least 3 years with stable sensory function. Concurrent strabismus repair did not compromise reduction in AHP. BCVA <20/40 significantly reduced the likelihood of a successful outcome and should be discussed at the time of preoperative counselling of all affected patients.