Strabismus surgery in topical anaesthesia with intraoperative suture adjustment in Graves' orbitopathy.

PURPOSE: To report the results of strabismus surgery in a series of patients with Graves' orbitopathy (GO), using topical anaesthesia with intraoperative suture adjustment. METHODS: All first-time strabismus surgeries in patients with GO in our department during the years 2014-2021 (n = 45) were assessed retrospectively. Among these, 31% came from outside our health region due to increased complexity of the strabismus condition. Orbital decompression surgery had been carried out in 58% of the patients prior to strabismus surgery. Patients with less than 2 months of follow-up were excluded from the study. Median follow-up time was 22 months. RESULTS: Among the total patient material, 37 (82%) could be operated with topical anaesthesia with intraoperative suture adjustment. There were no cases with triggering of the oculo-cardiac reflex during the procedure. Among the 36 patients operated with topical anaesthesia and follow-up time ≥2 months, 11 (31%) needed further surgery. Late overcorrection after recession of the inferior rectus was seen in 19%. At the last control examination, 32 (89%) were diplopia-free in primary and down-gaze position, either with or without weak prisms. CONCLUSION: Strabismus surgery in topical anaesthesia with intraoperative suture adjustment appears to be a suitable and safe procedure in most patients with GO, including difficult and complex cases. The patients should be informed about the possibility of additional surgery and/or post-operative need for prism glasses.

Topical anesthesia strabismus surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Topical anesthesia strabismus surgery is practised in selected surgical situations in the management of adult strabismus. Careful patient selection and patient co-operation throughout the surgery forms the crux of successfully completing the procedure. OBJECTIVE: To discuss and identify the scope of topical anesthesia in strabismus surgery based on the current level of evidence. METHODS: A literature search of articles pertaining to the use of topical strabismus surgery was carried out and summarized. The pre-operative considerations and patient counseling, timing of administration of topical anaesthetic, nuances in the surgical technique, benefits and limitations were evaluated. RESULTS: The patients with relatively smaller angle of deviation, single eye surgery and patients who have not had previous strabismus surgery were preferred candidates for topical strabismus surgery. It offers the additional advantage of performing an adjustable suture technique with a one stage adjustment. DISCUSSION: A pre-operative office room force duction test (FDT) is important both for assessing patient co-operation and from the patient perspective with regards to the level of comfort or discomfort they may experience. The results with regards to the successful completion of the procedure and its benefits and limitations support the use of topical anesthesia in strabismus surgery in a select few. CONCLUSION: This review concludes that topical anesthesia strabismus surgery can be the procedure of choice in select surgical situations in the management of adult strabismus.

Adjustable Suture Technique Is Associated with Fewer Strabismus Reoperations in the Intelligent Research in Sight Registry.

PURPOSE: To compare the reoperation rates after strabismus surgery with and without the adjustable suture technique. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 18 years of age or older in the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS®) Registry who underwent strabismus surgery between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018. METHODS: Data were collected from the electronic health records of practices participating in the IRIS Registry. The primary exposure of interest was use of the adjustable suture technique, identified by Current Procedural Terminology coding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was repeat strabismus surgery within 1 year of initial strabismus surgery. Odds ratios (ORs) were derived from a multivariable logistic regression model evaluating the association between the use of adjustable sutures and reoperation rate, adjusting for patient demographics and surgical factors. RESULTS: A total of 34 872 patients who underwent strabismus surgery during the study interval were identified: 72% underwent horizontal muscle surgery, 17% underwent vertical muscle surgery, and 11% underwent combined horizontal and vertical muscle surgery. Adjustable sutures were used in 18% of patients. The overall reoperation rate within 1 year of strabismus surgery was 7.7%. The 1-year reoperation rate was 6.0% for patients treated with adjustable sutures and 8.1% for patients treated without adjustable sutures (P < 0.001). The multivariable regression model revealed a statistically significant 30% decrease in the odds of reoperation within 1 year of surgery when adjustable sutures were used (OR, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.78), a 40% increase in those with a history of prior strabismus surgery (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.28-1.53), and a 9% increase per decade of age at surgery (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06-1.11). CONCLUSIONS: In adults cared for in practices participating in the IRIS Registry, the adjustable suture technique was associated with a significantly lower reoperation rate within 1 year of undergoing horizontal or combined horizontal and vertical strabismus surgery. Adjustable suture use in vertical strabismus surgery alone did not reduce the 1-year reoperation rate significantly. A history of prior strabismus surgery was associated with increased odds of reoperation.

Adjustable Sutures in the Treatment of Strabismus: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

PURPOSE: To review the scientific literature that evaluates the effectiveness of adjustable sutures in the management of strabismus for adult and pediatric patients. METHODS: Literature searches were performed in the PubMed database through April 2021 with no date limitations and were restricted to publications in English. The searches identified 551 relevant citations, of which 55 were reviewed in full text. Of these, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria and were assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. The search included all randomized controlled studies regardless of study size and cohort studies of 100 or more patients comparing the adjustable versus nonadjustable suture technique, with a focus on motor alignment outcomes or reoperation rates. RESULTS: The literature search yielded no level I studies. Of the 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria, 11 were rated level II and 6 were rated level III. Among the 12 studies that focused on motor alignment outcomes, 4 small randomized clinical trials (RCTs) did not find a statistically significant difference between groups, although they were powered to detect only very large differences. Seven of 8 nonrandomized studies found a statistically significant difference in motor alignment success in favor of the adjustable suture technique, both overall and in certain subgroups of patients. Successful motor alignment was seen in both exotropia (in 3 studies that were not limited to children) and esotropia (in 1 study of adults and 2 of children). The majority of included studies that reported on reoperation rates found the rates to be lower in patients who underwent strabismus surgery with adjustable sutures, but this finding was not uniformly demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are no level I studies evaluating the effectiveness of adjustable sutures for strabismus surgery, the majority of nonrandomized studies that met the inclusion criteria for this assessment reported an advantage of the adjustable suture technique over the nonadjustable technique with respect to motor alignment outcomes. This finding was not uniformly demonstrated among all studies reviewed and warrants further investigation in the development and analysis of adjustable suture techniques.

One-Month Postoperative Horizontal Strabismus Surgery Outcomes Using Adjustable and Nonadjustable Sutures.

INTRODUCTION: Previous series suggest adjustable sutures (AS) in adult strabismus surgery yield improved ocular alignment and better success rates compared to nonadjustable sutures (NAS). We questioned whether these differences are clinically significant and whether they justify the added time and discomfort required for AS. METHODS: We reviewed all available records of adults undergoing horizontal strabismus surgery by the last two authors between 2000 and 2014. Independently, the two surgeons developed a preference for NAS midway through the study period, permitting comparisons between two treatment groups. Results were assessed at one to two months postoperatively. The primary outcome was alignment in primary position at one to two months postoperatively. The secondary outcome was success rate, defined as <10PD residual or consecutive deviation. RESULTS: We included 184 patients, 68 with AS and 116 with NAS. No significant difference in primary position alignment at 1-2 months was noted between AS and NAS for esotropia (P = .26) or for exotropia (P = .10). Success rates were similar (P = .58 for esotropia and P = .34 for exotropia). DISCUSSION: Although we acknowledge limitations in this retrospective study, our results suggest that AS overall was not associated with improved alignment or success rates, compared to NAS, at 1- to 2- months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Although adjustable sutures represent a valuable surgical option at the discretion of individual surgeons and their patients, we no longer routinely use AS in all adult cases. A prospective study to evaluate long-term outcomes would be helpful.

Adjustable Versus Nonadjustable Sutures in Strabismus Surgery-Who Benefits the Most?

BACKGROUND: Adjustable sutures have been used in strabismus surgery for more than 40 years, but controversy remains regarding their application. This review sought to analyze studies comparing the efficacy of adjustable sutures (AS) and nonadjustable sutures (NAS) in the treatment of different ocular deviations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed literature database was searched using the keywords 'adjustable sutures' and 'strabismus surgery', yielding a total of 209 results. Only comparative studies were extracted, and the results were divided into three categories: Adult comitant strabismus, childhood comitant strabismus, and paretic/restrictive strabismus. RESULTS: The search revealed eleven comparative studies on AS versus NAS in adult strabismus, including only one randomized controlled trial. Five of these studies analyzed just the postoperative success rate, three studies analyzed just the reoperation rate, two studies analyzed both the postoperative success and reoperation rates, and one study evaluated achievement of the postoperative target angle. Three of seven studies analyzing postoperative success reported the statically significant superiority of AS over NAS, while four of five studies analyzing reoperation rate indicated a significantly smaller percentage of reoperations with the use of AS. The study covering postoperative target angle as an outcome favored the AS technique. Separately, the search revealed three comparative studies on AS versus NAS in childhood strabismus, one of which reported a statistically significant advantage with AS. Only four comparative studies on AS versus NAS in paretic or restrictive strabismus were found; all showed a tendency for better results with the use of AS but not in a statistically significant fashion. Overall, out of 18 studies analyzed in this review, 17 suggested better clinical results followed the application of AS versus NAS; however, only a minority had statistically significant results. CONCLUSION: The analysis of available research failed to support AS as the preferable surgery technique over NAS in cases of simple and predictive strabismus. Further research is needed to more precisely determine the group of patients able to benefit the most from AS.

Vertical Strabismus - Indication of Surgical Techniques on the Inferior Rectus Muscle.

Aid: Familiarize themselves with the operating techniques in their own modulation to solve hypotropic states with elevation or hypotropic states with depression. METHODS: Surgery technique “cul-de-sac” is a procedure with fixed adjustable sutures (non-absorbable suture), which are guided in parallel on both peaks original insertion of inferior rectus muscle. The node itself of suture is done in cutting the muscle and through the original insertion only leads arc suture. During „counterclockwise transposition“ procedure sec. Knapp, the horizontal rectus muscles are fixed at the straight inferior rectus muscle level. The author included their graphical diagrams. MATERIAL: At the Department of Ophthalmology in the Faculty Hospital Královské Vinohrady in Prague (Czech Republic, EU) in the years 1996 - 2014 a release relaxing operation of the inferior rectus musle by the technique “cul-de-sac” on 49 eyes. Indication was double elevator palsy in 31 patients, congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles in 15 patients and in 3 cases, it was thyroid eye disease. “Counterclockwise transposition” procedure sec. Knapp was indicated twice for paresis of the inferior rectus muscle in 2015 and 2016. For the first time, it was a congenital form. It was detected histologically atrophy of stripped muscle with hypertrophy collagen. The second traumatic form was formed after an orbital injury. RESULTS: We provided adequate relaxation of the inferior rectus muscle and practical restoration of eye elevation by the technique “cul-de-sac“ in 18 preschool children with the double elevator palsy and three adult patients with thyreiod eye disease. We had to restore motility to complete the procedure by classical transposition procedure sec. Knapp of both horizontal rectus muscles to the direct superior rectus muscle in elderly children and adults with the double elevator palsy, as well as in all patients with the congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles. Indicate the inclusion of this transposition influenced the degree of fibrotic rectus inferior muscle given by age. “Counterclockwise transposition“ procedure sec. Knapp ensured the practical disappearance hypertropie in both cases of paresis of the inferior rectus muscle. The alignment of the position of the eyes without diplopia in the direct view was ensured by prismatic correction. CONCLUSIONS:   To release the fibrotically altered inferior rectus muscle in the double elevator palsy, the congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles and the thyroid eye disease, the operation of adjustable sutures was necessary in accordance with our experience with the technigue “cul-de-sac“ in its own modification. The transposition procedure sec. Knapp, either classical or “”counterclockwise” “ in its own modification, was of paramount importance for the solution of the vertical deviation of a paretic ethiology. Key words: adjustable sutures, congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles, double elevator palsy, thyroid eye disease, transposition procedure sec. Knapp, vertical strabismus.

Reoperation following strabismus surgery among Medicare beneficiaries: Associations with geographic region, academic affiliation, surgeon volume, and adjustable suture technique.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the associations of strabismus surgery reoperation rates in a large national database of provider payments with geographic region, practice type and volume, and the availability of adjustable suture technique. Methods: Fee-for-service payments to providers for medicare beneficiaries having strabismus surgery between 2012 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed to identify reoperations in the same calendar year. The adjustable-suture technique was considered to be available to the patient if the patient's surgeon billed for adjustable sutures. Predictors of reoperation in the same calendar year were determined by multivariable logistic regression. Results: Availability of the adjustable suture technique was not associated with reoperation rate in multivariable analysis among 5971 patients having horizontal muscle surgery (odds ratio, [OR] 0.86, P = 0.29), 2840 patients having vertical muscle surgery (OR 0.98, P = 0.93), or 1199 patients having surgery with scarring or restriction (OR 0.86, P = 0.61). For horizontal surgery, the reoperation rate was higher in academic practices (OR 1.67), as compared with community practices, and in the South (OR 2.85) and West (OR 1.92, all P < 0.001). The reoperation rate was unchanged with surgeons in the lowest-quartile of surgical volume. Among surgeons paid for horizontal surgery, 45% of surgeons in the Northeast, the West, or Florida coded for adjustable sutures, compared with 8% of surgeons elsewhere (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The availability of the adjustable-suture technique was not associated with reoperation rate after strabismus surgery in this large national database. Having surgery by a lower-volume surgeon was not associated with a higher reoperation rate. The reoperation rate was higher when surgery was conducted in an academic practice, or in certain regions of the country. Adjustable sutures are largely a bicoastal practice.

Adjustable Strabismus Surgery under Topical Anesthesia: Alignment in Supine vs Seated Position.

PURPOSE: To compare ocular deviation in the operating room depending on whether the patient is in supine decubitus or seated after single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a prospective observational study of 30 patients with horizontal and/or vertical strabismus who underwent single stage adjustable strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia. Both distance and near deviation were evaluated before surgery, during surgery in both positions (seated and supine), and at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. A final horizontal deviation <10 pd and a vertical deviation <5 pd without diplopia was considered to be a good outcome (3 months after surgery). RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 55 years and 76.7% were women. Most had esotropia (70%). The most frequently used surgical combination was the medial rectus and lateral rectus (36.7%). Surgical adjustment was necessary in 40% of cases. Mean preoperative deviation was 21.9 ± 12.63 pd (distance) and 20.66 ± 4.76 (near). Deviation with the patient supine was 8 ± 8.25 pd (distance) and 7.26 ± 5.81 (near). Deviation with the patient seated was 8.13 pd±8.38 (distance) and 8.5 ± 7.41 (near). There was no significant difference between the positions. Outcome was favorable in 70% of patients; this percentage increased to 83.33% at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences were found between ocular deviations in the seated or supine position in the operating room. Outcome was favorable in most cases 3 months after surgery. Intraoperative ocular deviation was not a predictor of outcome.

Comparison of adjustable sutures versus nonadjustable sutures in intermittent exotropia.

PURPOSE: To compare adjustable sutures versus nonadjustable sutures for intermittent exotropia. METHODS: In this randomized prospective interventional study, 40 adult patients with intermittent exotropia were randomly divided into 2 equal groups. Both groups underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession. In group A, adjustable suture recession was performed, and in group B, nonadjustable suture recession was performed. Patients were followed up for 6 months and outcome measures were residual deviation, binocular status, and need for resurgery. RESULTS: Success was defined as alignment of 2 eyes <10 prism diopters (PD) of deviation at the end of 12 weeks. Need for resurgery in a 12-week follow-up period was considered to be failure. At the end of the study, 90% of the patients in group A and 85% of the patients were within 10 prism diopters of orthophoria (p = 0.316). At the end of 6 months, mean deviation in group A was 6.20 PD and in group B it was 5.60 PD (p = 0.31). No patient underwent resurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustable hang-back recession has no definite added advantage over nonadjustable hang-back recession in intermittent exotropia.

Uterine Suspension With Adjustable Sutures for Difficult Laparoscopic Myomectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess whether transabdominal uterine suspension with adjustable sutures (USAS) is beneficial when performed concomitantly with laparoscopic myomectomy in patients with unfavorably localized leiomyomas in whom uterine manipulators are not an option. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: A university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Patients (N = 158) with posterior deep intramural, intraligamental, or cervical leiomyomas; 81 patients underwent USAS (suspension group), and 77 patients did not (control group) concomitantly with laparoscopic myomectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Transabdominal USAS was performed for all eligible patients undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy using a 2-0 synthetic, monofilament, nonabsorbable polypropylene suture. One end of the double-headed straight needles of the polypropylene suture was inserted into the pelvic cavity through the abdomen to "lift" or "retract" the uterus to allow for the main tumor to be completely exposed and excised. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The average time to create USAS was 2.5 minutes. For the suspension and control groups, the average number of abdominal ports was 3 and 4.4 (p < .001), the average blood loss was 96.3 and 201.5 mL (p < .001), and the average operative time was 50.8 and 91.2 minutes (p < .001), respectively. There was no significant difference in complications (4.9% vs 9.1%, p = .303), but there was a significant difference in conversion to laparotomy (1.2% vs 10.4%, p = .009). At the 3-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in gynecologic and reproductive outcomes, including leiomyoma recurrence, uterine rupture, and pregnancy and live birth rates. The ratio of conversion to laparotomy (odds ratio = 0.108; 95% confidence interval, 0.013-0.884) was much lower in the suspension group. CONCLUSION: USAS is an easy, safe, and feasible alternative to uterine manipulation when performed concomitantly with laparoscopic myomectomy for unfavorably localized uterine leiomyomas.

Treatment of exophthalmos and strabismus surgery in thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Endocrine orbitopathy (EO) can have important consequences, such as exophthalmos and restrictive strabismus. A retrospective study was performed of 35 patients with EO who underwent orbital decompression surgery and restrictive strabismus correction. Two surgical techniques for orbital decompression were analyzed: fat decompression by Olivari technique and three-wall bony expansion with fat decompression. Strabismus surgery was performed using adjustable or non-adjustable sutures under topical anaesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of intra-orbital decompression performed, and the postoperative values resulting from the different fat decompression techniques were recorded. The preoperative and postoperative mean degrees of exophthalmos were 22.3 and 19.9mm, respectively, for the fat decompression group, and 24.3 and 19.8mm, respectively, for the bony expansion with transpalpebral fat decompression (combined form) group. The difference in residual prism dioptres between adjustable and non-adjustable suture techniques in patients who had previously undergone combined decompression was statistically significant. The management of patients with EO requires a multidisciplinary approach based on the collaboration of maxillofacial surgeons, ophthalmologists, and orthoptists. These results will allow the development of a more adequate strategy for the surgical treatment of restrictive strabismus in EO patients.

Ovarian Suspension With Adjustable Sutures: An Easy and Helpful Technique for Facilitating Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Gynecologic Surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe a method of ovarian suspension with adjustable sutures (OSAS) for facilitating laparoendoscopic single-site gynecologic surgery (LESS) and to investigate the effect of OSAS on LESS. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification: II-2). SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred seventy-eight patients with benign 5- to 15-cm cystic ovarian tumors who underwent LESS with OSAS (suspension group, n = 90) and without OSAS (control group, n = 88). INTERVENTIONS: For patients who underwent OSAS (suspension group), 1 end of double-head straight needles with a polypropylene suture was inserted into the pelvic cavity through the abdominal skin to penetrate the cyst or ovarian parenchyma and puncture outside the abdominal skin. After cutting off the needles, both sides of the remaining suture were held together by a clamp, without knotting, so that the manipulator could "lift," "loosen," or "fix" the stitches to adjust the tension. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The average time to create OSAS was 2.9 min. For the suspension and control groups, the average blood loss was 81.4 and 131.8 mL (p < .001), and the operative time was 42.0 and 61.3 min (p < .001), respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications (5.6% vs 9.1%; p = .365), but there were significant differences in conversions to standard non-single-site laparoscopy (5.6% vs 15.9%; p = .025) and laparotomy (1.1% vs 6.8%; p = .040). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the ratios of conversion to standard non-single-site laparoscopy (odds ratio [OR], 0.126; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.311-0.508) and laparotomy (OR, 0.032; 95% CI, 0.002-0.479) were much lower in the suspension group; the risk of complications was comparable (OR, 0.346; 95% CI, 0.085-1.403). CONCLUSION: OSAS is an easy, safe, and feasible method that offers advantages during LESS. Although routine use of OSAS is not necessary, OSAS can be considered during LESS to facilitate the surgery.

A survey of outcome of adjustable suture as first operation in patients with strabismus.

BACKGROUND: Adjustable suture used for years to improve the outcome of strabismus surgery. We surveyed outcome of our patients with strabismus who underwent adjustable suture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was performed at Ophthalmology Centre of Feiz Hospital in Isfahan on 95 participants that candidate for adjustable suture strabismus surgery. Patients were divided into three age groups: Under 10 years, 10-19 years, and 20 years and over. Outcome of adjustable suture surgery consequence of residual postoperative deviation was divided into four groups: Excellent, good, acceptable, and unacceptable. RESULTS: Out of 95 patients studied, 51 (53.7%) were males and 44 (46.3%) were females. The mean of deviation angles were 53.8 ± 17.9 PD (Prism dioptres) in alt XT, 44.5 ± 12 PD in alt ET and 52 ± 13.5 PD in const ET, 47.1 ± 13.1PD in cons XT, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.051). Results of surgery were in 38 patients (40%) excellent, in 31 patients (32.6%) good, in 19 patients (20%) acceptable, and in 7 patients (7.4%) unacceptable. Seven (7.4%) patients required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the frequency of re-operation was much lower than other similar studies (7.4% vs. 30-50%). This suggests that the adjustable technique that used in our study can be associated with lower reoperation than other adjustable techniques used in the other similar studies.