Medial Rectus Inferior Half Plication for the Treatment of Near Exotropia.

PURPOSE: To report a relatively new surgical treatment for near exotropia called medial rectus inferior half plication.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of the outcomes from a single surgeon performing a plication of the inferior half of the medial rectus muscle in 17 consecutive patients with near exotropia unresponsive to medial rectus bupivacaine injection.

RESULTS

Thirteen of 17 (76%) patients were asymptomatic after surgery with no diplopia for near fixation and with either a normal or slightly reduced prism fusion range enabling them to have comfortable binocular single vision. There was one minor surgical overcorrection with distance diplopia that disappeared within 2 weeks of surgery. Of the 4 of 17 (24%) patients who required further intervention, 3 required one further surgical procedure and 1 required an injection of bupivacaine into the contralateral medial rectus muscle to obtain a satisfactory alignment and control of symptoms. No patient needed more than two total operations.

CONCLUSIONS

The data show medial rectus inferior plication can produce excellent outcomes with minimal risk of overcorrection. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(3):219-222.].