Effect of inferior oblique myectomy on ocular torsion according to the absence of the trochlear nerve in unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the effect of inferior oblique (IO) myectomy on ocular torsion according to the absence of the trochlear nerve in unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy (UCSOP). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients who had been diagnosed with UCSOP and underwent ipsilateral IO myectomy (n = 43). Patients were classified into the present and absent groups according to the absence of the trochlear nerve and superior oblique hypoplasia on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For quantitative analysis of ocular torsion, disc-fovea angles (DFA) were collected in both eyes using fundus photographs taken within three months before surgery and one month after surgery. Results DFA of the paretic eye did not differ according to the absence of the trochlear nerve (9.4±5.6° in the present group vs. 11.0±5.4° in the absent group, p = 0.508). However, the present group had a larger DFA in the non-paretic eye than the absent group (14.1±6.7° in the present group vs. 8.0±5.0° in the absent group, p = 0.003). The change of ocular torsion after IO myectomy in the paretic eye was -5.3±3.7° in the present group and -4.8±3.5° in the absent group, respectively (p = 0.801). In the non-paretic eye, the change in DFA was -1.5±3.0° in the present group, which was larger than that in the absent group (0.7±2.6°, p = 0.047). In the multivariate analysis, the change in DFA was correlated with only the preoperative DFA (standardized β = -0.617, p<0.001 in the paretic eye, and standardized β = -0.517, p<0.001 in the non-paretic eye). Conclusions In the paretic eye, there was no significant difference in the change of ocular torsion between both groups, whereas in the non-paretic eye, the present group had a larger change in DFA after IO myectomy than the absent group. However, in the multivariable analysis, the change in ocular torsion was significantly correlated with preoperative excyclotorsion but not with the presence of the trochlear nerve itself.

Clinical Outcomes of Inferior Oblique Myectomy in Patients with Unilateral Superior Oblique Palsy

“…The large variability in the maximal follow-up periods is attributable to the nature of the practice used for this study: patients are referred from a large geographical area and often discharged after their initial post-op visit with instructions to return only if problems persists/return. Additionally, we have not been able to correlate our results with the status of the superior oblique muscle due to the rare instances of imaging done on our patients (11).…”