Outcomes of symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession in large-angle esotropic Duane syndrome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession in large-angle esotropic Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) with moderate to severe globe retraction.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, medical reports of 30 patients with esotropia of equal or more than 20 prism diopters (pd) and moderate to serve globe retraction due to unilateral DRS who underwent symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession were reviewed. Age, gender, laterality, amblyopia, length of follow-up, pre- and postoperative measurements of primary position deviation, ocular ductions and severity of globe retraction and abnormal head posture were evaluated. A successful result was defined as decreasing esotropia to equal or less than 8 pd or equal or less than 8 pd of consecutive exotropia.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients at surgery was 13.7 ± 8.5 years old (range: 3-38). The mean preoperative esotropia measured 28.9 ± 9.1 pd in distance and 25.7 ± 7.2 pd in near, which decreased to 4.9 ± 6.1 pd in distance and 3.9 ± 8.8 pd in near postoperatively. The mean bilateral medial rectus recession was 4.9 ± 0.9 mm (range: 3-6 mm). The mean abnormal head posture improved from 19.1 ± 6.9 degrees (range: 10-30 degrees) to 3.3 ± 4.7 degrees (range: 0-15 degrees) postoperatively. At the last follow-up visit, 23 patients (76.7%) had a successful outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In the large-angle esotropic DRS patients with moderate to severe globe retraction, symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession, can be conducted to successfully resolve primary position deviation and abnormal head posture.