Postoperative outcomes for unilateral congenital trochlear nerve palsy: A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Congenital trochlear nerve palsy is the most common cause of vertical strabismus. The goal of this study was to investigate surgical outcomes after superior oblique tendon plication with or without inferior oblique recession in children and adults with unilateral congenital trochlear nerve palsy. METHODS: Data and outcomes were collected in patients with a diagnosis of unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy during a retrospective single-center study conducted at the University Hospital of Tours. A reproducible, standard ophthalmological and oculomotor examination was performed pre- and postoperatively at 1 year, including presence or absence of diplopia, vertical and horizontal deviations, and compensatory head posture. Surgical success, defined as an endpoint including absence of diplopia in primary position, absence of head tilt, and vertical deviation at distance fixation<5 prism diopters (PD), was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of fifty-seven patients (median [IQR] age of 11 years [5-42]) were analyzed. Patients experienced a significant reduction in vertical distance and near deviations (p<0.001), compensatory head tilt (p < 0.001), and diplopia after surgery (p < 0.001). Surgical success was higher in adults (17/24, 70.8%) than in children (15/33, 45.5%), although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.0657). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that plication of the superior oblique muscle tendon, with or without recession of the inferior oblique muscle, can be effective in treating unilateral congenital trochlear nerve palsy. Further studies are necessary to compare surgical procedures and investigate their efficacy in adults compared to children in the short and long term.

Evaluating the potential of ChatGPT-4 in ophthalmology: The good, the bad and the ugly.

There is growing interest nowadays for artificial intelligence (AI) in all medical fields. Beyond the direct medical application of AI to medical data, generative AI such as "pre-trained transformer" (GPT) could significantly change the ophthalmology landscape, opening up new avenues for enhancing precision, productivity, and patient outcomes. At present, ChatGPT-4 has been investigated in various ways in ophthalmology for research, medical education, and support for clinical decisions purposes. This article intends to demonstrate the application of ChatGPT-4 within the field of ophthalmology by employing a 'mise en abime' approach. While we explore its potential to enhance the future of ophthalmology care, we will also carefully outline its current limitations and potential risks.

[Impact of the French 2020 COVID-19 lockdown on the treatment and follow-up of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration]. / Impact du confinement français en 2020 sur la prise en charge des patients atteints de dégénérescence maculaire liée à l'âge exsudative.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of the measures taken during the lockdown period from March 17 to May 11, 2020 on the management of patients with exudative age related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at the University Hospital of Tours. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients were included after analysis of the computerized medical records of patients with age related macular degeneration. Those who were treated for exudative age related macular degeneration who received at least 1 intravitreal injection in the 12 months prior and at least one consultation in the 6 months prior to the lockdown period, were included. The initial and final mean visual acuity were compared with a 5 letter non-inferiority margin. A subgroup analysis was performed according to outcomes. The visual acuities immediately after this period were also recorded. RESULTS: In all, 595 eyes of 493 patients were included. The mean initial visual acuity was 59.6 letters, vs. 58.5 for the final visual acuity, i.e. a difference of -1.13 letters with a lower limit of the confidence interval of less than 5. The visual acuity on release from lockdown was comparable to the other 2 measurements. Initial visual acuity and the number of missed treatments were the main factors associated with functional loss. CONCLUSION: Patients' visual acuity during the lockdown period was able to be maintained despite the restrictive measures and limitation of care access in France. The most common cause of substantial visual decline was missed intravitreal injections.

Long-term ophthalmological outcomes in patients with anterior plagiocephaly managed with a fronto-orbital advancement procedure.

BACKGROUND: Anterior plagiocephaly results from early fusion of a unilateral coronal cranial suture, which affects 1/10,000 infants at birth and can be associated with ophthalmological complications. The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of oculomotor disorders and refractive errors in children with non-syndromic anterior plagiocephaly. METHODS: Patients with anterior plagiocephaly undergoing surgery using a fronto-orbital advancement technique were included in this retrospective study between 2011 and 2017. The following data were collected: cycloplegic refraction in diopters (D), best-corrected visual acuity, manifest strabismus in primary position, ocular motility, head tilt in primary position, slit-lamp and fundus examination. The refractive errors were determined by autorefraction after cycloplegia with cyclopentolate. RESULTS: Among the sixteen patients included, hyperopia >2.5D was found in 10 patients, astigmatism >1D in 10 patients and anisometropia >1D in 7 patients. Astigmatism was contralateral to the synostosis in 7 cases. In total, significant refractive errors were found in 92.9%. Amblyopia was found in 33.3% patients. Strabismus was found in 11 patients, most frequently combined horizontal and vertical, of which 4 required strabismus surgery. The most frequent vertical deviation was ipsilateral hypertropia in 54.5%. We found superior oblique muscle limitation in 3 patients. Optic disc pallor was found in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: In the years following fronto-orbital advancement for non-syndromic anterior plagiocephaly, refractive errors and oculomotor disorders are frequently encountered, mainly contralateral astigmatism and strabismus with both horizontal deviation and ispilateral hypertropia.

[Outcomes of partial vertical rectus transposition in acquired sixth nerve palsy]. / Efficacité de la transposition partielle des muscles droits verticaux dans les paralysies acquises du sixième nerf crânien.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of partial vertical rectus transposition (PVRT) in acquired sixth nerve palsy (SNP) on distance ocular deviation in primary position (PP), binocular diplopia in PP, head turn, and limitation of abduction. METHODS: This retrospective, single center study was conducted at the Regional University Medical Center of Tours between 2004 and 2019. All patients underwent comprehensive orthoptic and ophthalmic examination before and after surgery. Total success was defined as horizontal distance deviation in PP≤10 prism diopters (PD), absence of permanent diplopia in PP, head turn≤5 degrees and absence of any induced vertical deviation at last examination. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent PVRT with a median delay of 3.3 years (2.3 to 7.3) following the diagnosis of SNP. The median duration of postoperative follow-up was 13 months (3.25 to 25). Seven patients (70%) were considered a total success. The mean distance horizontal deviation in PP was reduced from 25.4±11.7 PD preoperatively to 9.2±11 PD postoperatively. Preoperatively, 10 patients did not cross midline in abduction, compared to 8 patients at the last follow-up examination. Postoperatively, 3 patients had permanent binocular diplopia in PP, and 2 patients had an anomalous head turn. CONCLUSION: Although further prospective investigations are needed, PVRT can be considered a safe and effective procedure for acquired SNP.

[Clinical and economic impact of an ambulatory cataract surgery center without anesthesia in an area with poor ophthalmologic coverage]. / Impact médico-économique d'un centre de chirurgie ambulatoire de la cataracte sans parcours anesthésique dans un territoire en tension.

INTRODUCTION: The Ambulatory Clinic for Cataract Surgery (CACC) is a public department of the Bourges Medical Center, with a fast-track protocol without perioperative anesthesia care launched in 2015. This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of the CACC in terms of access to cataract surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing cataract surgery between 2012 and 2018. Data were collected from the French PMSI database. In order to evaluate the impact of the CACC, the surgical activity and change in indicators of patient flow and usage, as well as clinical and economic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2018, with the same number of ophthalmologists, surgical activity increased by 50.2% in the Cher (vs. a mean increase of 22.7% in France). The patient loss ratio decreased by 5.9 points, the attraction and self-sufficiency ratios increased by 2.3 and 8.6 points respectively. The standardized rate of healthcare utilization for cataract surgery increased by 4.3 points (from 11.6 to 15.9 surgeries per 1000 inhabitants). As a result, Cher became the second highest French Department in 2018 in terms of utilization rate despite its 96th place out of 109 Departments in terms of density of ophthalmologists. CONCLUSION: The ambulatory cataract surgery center without anesthesia for selected patients might represent a solution in medical deserts to improve access to cataract surgery without increasing costs.

Giant cell arteritis with ocular involvement successfully treated with tocilizumab and very short-course glucocorticoids: A case report.

PURPOSE: To report the case of a patient with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) with a history of glucocorticoids (GC) hypersensitivity treated with monthly intravenous tocilizumab (IV TCZ) and short course of GC. CASE REPORT: A 71-year-old Caucasian patient presented with AAION related to giant cell arteritis (GCA) confirmed by temporal artery biopsy. Past medical history was significant for GC hypersensitivity proven by allergy evaluation and the patient was managed with IV TCZ and very short-course GC. CONCLUSION: TCZ therapy with very short-course GC could be effective in GCA with ophthalmic involvement as a first-line strategy. Clinical trials are needed for thorough evaluation of the efficiency of TCZ as a first-line treatment to induce and maintain remission in patients with GCA and ocular involvement.

[Outcomes after medial rectus recession and lateral rectus plication for abducens nerve palsy: A retrospective study]. / Recul du droit médial et plicature du droit latéral pour les paralysies unilatérales du nerf abducens : une cohorte rétrospective.

BACKGROUND: Abducens nerve palsy (ANP) is the most common oculomotor palsy. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of medial rectus recession with lateral rectus plication in patients with unilateral acquired ANP and to describe the etiologies of this condition. METHODS: Thirty-one patients were included in this retrospective single-center study conducted between 2000 and 2019 at the university research hospital in Tours. The following data were collected before and after surgery: diplopia, oculomotor deviations, ocular motility, and head posturing. RESULTS: The mean age was 55.9±18.9 years and the mean postoperative follow-up was 11±4 months. Postoperatively, the patients had significant reduction in diplopia in primary position (P<0.001), in abduction of the affected eye (P<0.001) and in distance and near horizontal deviations (P<0.001). Abduction of the affected eye was significantly improved (P<0.001), but reduction in head posturing was insignificant (P=0.27). The etiologies were as follows: trauma (8 patients, 26%), neoplasm (6 patients, 16%), stroke-related (5 patients, 16%), compressive (5 patients, 16%), undetermined (5 patients, 16%) and inflammatory (2 patients, 6%). CONCLUSION: Medial rectus recession with lateral rectus plication is an effective procedure in reducing diplopia and ocular deviation in unilateral acquired ANP and may be used as a first-line intervention regardless of the initial ocular motility limitation in abduction. The causes are mainly traumatic but remain undetermined in one case out of six.

[Screening for diabetic retinopathy in the Centre-Val de Loire region: A study based on the French national healthcare database]. / Suivi ophtalmologique des patients diabétiques en région Centre-Val de Loire : une étude issue du Système national des données de santé (SNDS).

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of this study was to investigate the rate of ophthalmological screening for diabetic retinopathy in diabetic individuals in the Centre-Val de Loire (CVDL) region. This study secondarily aimed to identify factors associated with regular ophthalmological screening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the French national healthcare database (SNDS). Individuals were identified on the basis of reimbursements for antidiabetic medications. Patients who were identified as having at least one reimbursed eye examination between 2015 and 2016 were considered as having regular follow-up. RESULTS: In total, 118,181 diabetic individuals residing in CVDL were identified in the SNDS, and 74,048 had undergone ophthalmological screening. The rate of eye examination was 62.7% between 2015 and 2016 and was highly variable within the region (from 65.6% in Loiret to 54.0% in Cher). The main factors associated with regular eye screening were: follow-up with an established primary care physician (OR=2.88), regular follow-up with a diabetologist (OR=2.14), and regular follow-up with an internist (OR=1.57). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that ophthalmological screening for diabetic retinopathy in individuals with diabetes in the CVDL region could be significantly improved, particularly in rural areas. Factors influencing compliance with follow-up are multiple but appear mainly related to the patients' quality of overall medical management. These findings highlight the need for public health policies to improve detection and prevention of diabetic retinopathy by promoting comprehensive medical care for diabetic individuals.

Surgical outcomes after unilateral horizontal rectus surgery in children with infantile esotropia for the correction of A or V pattern.

PURPOSE: The management of A or V pattern deviation associated with esotropia can be challenging since the horizontal deviation changes with position of gaze. This study aimed to assess the effect of unilateral horizontal rectus surgery for the correction of horizontal deviation associated with A or V pattern in children with non-comitant infantile esotropia. METHODS: Twenty-seven children with infantile esotropia and A-V pattern, more than 10 and 15 prism diopters respectively, were included in this retrospective observational single-center study. Horizontal rectus surgery was performed on the most deviated eye under general anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups: A pattern and V pattern. The outcome measures were change in the amount of pattern and rate of regression after surgery. The amount of pattern was characterized by the difference in esodeviation between upgaze and downgaze. RESULTS: Horizontal deviation at distance and near fixation decreased significantly (P<0.0001). Vertical gaze esotropia disparity decreased significantly (P=0.01 and P=0.0002 for A and V patterns respectively). A pattern esotropia was reported in only 2 (7%) cases after surgery compared to 9 (33%) before surgery. The number of subjects with V pattern esotropia decreased from 18 (67%) to 3 (11%) after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of A and V patterns may not always be related to oblique muscle dysfunction. These findings suggest that unilateral horizontal rectus surgery may be an effective procedure to correct both horizontal deviation and A-V pattern in non-comitant infantile esotropia.

Spinal epidural abscess: evaluation of factors influencing outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to critically evaluate the predictive efficacy of various clinical factors in spinal epidural abscess influencing outcome after surgical and/or medical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 41 cases of spinal epidural abscess treated at Henry Ford Hospital between 1984 and 1992 was performed. RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent open surgery and received antibiotic therapy, and 11 patients received medical treatment alone. After a mean follow-up period of 20.9 months (range, 4-45 mo), 24 patients (58.5%) had no or minimal deficits, 9 patients (22%) had severe paresis or plegia and/or bowel/bladder dysfunction, and 8 patients (19.5%) died. Univariate analysis revealed patient age, degree of thecal sac compression, spinal location, surgical findings, and septic presentation to be significantly associated with outcome. In multiple logistic regression analysis, increasing age and degree of thecal sac compression were the only factors with significant independent association with poor outcome (P = 0.01 for both). A simple grading system (Grades 0-III) was developed, with patient age, degree of thecal sac compression, and duration of symptoms as the determining criteria. The incidence of poor outcome for patients with Grade 0 was 0%, compared to 85.7% for patients with Grade III. CONCLUSION: We conclude that long-term outcome after treatment of spinal epidural abscess can be predicted with the use of the proposed grading scheme. Surgical drainage plus parenterally administered antibiotics remains the recommended treatment, although medical treatment alone can also be used for certain patients.

Predicting outcome following surgical treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a proposed grading system.

Surgical treatment of unruptured aneurysms is gaining increased support owing to the recently defined poor long-term natural history of these aneurysms. The benefit of treatment ultimately depends on the relative risk of subsequent aneurysm rupture in untreated patients versus the risk of surgery. To identify those patients at a higher risk from surgery, the authors reviewed the management of 172 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated at their institution. The size of the aneurysms ranged from 3 to 45 mm (mean 13.7 mm). Twenty-two patients (12.8%) had aneurysms in the posterior circulation, and 32 (18.6%) of these were giant aneurysms. Major morbidity occurred in 12 patients (6.9%) and five patients (2.9%) died. Multivariate logistic analysis of several risk factors revealed that aneurysm size and location had an independent correlation with surgical outcome and that patient age approached statistical significance. Patients presenting with ischemic cerebrovascular disease, in particular, did not have a higher risk of a poor outcome. A simple classification for predicting patients at high risk from surgical morbidity and mortality is proposed. Preoperative grading is based on the size and location of the aneurysm and patient's age. The lowest grade is given to young patients with small anterior circulation aneurysms, and the highest grade includes elderly patients with complex giant posterior circulation aneurysms. A retrospective analysis of this classification demonstrated a strong correlation with postoperative outcome. The incidence of poor outcome progressively increased with a higher grade, ranging from 0% in Grade 0 to 66.6% in Grade VI. An analysis of this classification on 50 consecutive surgically treated patients with unruptured aneurysms not included in the analysis also validated the predictive value of this system. Along with predicting outcome, this classification should provide a standardized format for comparison of results from different clinical centers as well as different therapeutic techniques (surgical vs. endovascular) without omission of significant risk factors found to influence outcome.

Posterolateral cervical or thoracic approach with spinal cord rotation for vascular malformations or tumors of the ventrolateral spinal cord.

This report describes a technique for exposing the ventrolateral quadrant of the spinal cord through an extended posterolateral approach that can be used in both cervical and thoracic regions. The surgical technique includes the following: 1) a midline skin incision with a transverse extension at the level of pathology; 2) unilateral division and retraction of the paraspinous muscles; 3) laminectomy and unilateral removal of facets and pedicles; 4) dural incision over the dorsal root entry zone; 5) multilevel division of the ipsilateral dentate ligaments; and 6) elevation and rotation of the spinal cord with dentate traction stiches. This technique provides exposure of the ventral root entry zone, the ipsilateral half of the ventral surface of the cord, and the anterior spinal artery. The surface of the spinal cord beyond the anterior spinal artery is not seen. This approach has been used for the treatment of seven ventrolateral spinal cord lesions: five spinal arteriovenous malformations (two Type II, one Type III, two Type IV), one hemangioblastoma, and one cavernous angioma. All the lesions were completely excised. Two patients had mild new neurological deficit after surgery, and one adolescent developed mild asymptomatic thoracic kyphosis, but no other spinal instability was observed over a follow-up period of 1 to 4 years. This operative approach provides significant advantages for ventrolateral perimedullary or intramedullary lesions of the cervical or thoracic spinal cord.

Computational study of radiation chemical processing in comet nuclei.

Cometary nuclei have been exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation since their formation. We present here some results of a computer model calculation of the effect of ionizing radiation on cometary material. The external (cosmic rays) and internal (embedded radionuclides) contributions in the processing of cometary nuclei are considered. As a first approximation we have used the available kinetic data of the liquid water system to model the radiation effects in a frozen cometary environment. Our [correction of out] data suggest that massive radiation chemical processing due to cosmic rays may have taken place only in the outer layers of comets. The internal contribution of radionuclides to the radiation processing of comet cores seems to be modest. Therefore, comets could be carriers of intact homochiral biomolecules.

Vertical banded gastroplasty as an antireflux procedure.

Vertical banded gastroplasty creates a channel by two applications of the TA-90 stapler from an end-to-end anastomosis window above the crow's foot to the angle of His, against a 32 F. tube along the lesser curvature. The caudad end of the channel is restricted by a 5 cm collar. Thirty-one obese patients more than 45 kg overweight were studied by interview, barium swallow, endoscopy, and manometry. These procedures were repeated 13 +/- 5.5 weeks postoperatively, after resolution of operative edema and before extensive weight loss. Preoperative symptoms included heartburn in 24 patients, regurgitation in 17 patients, and aspiration in 2 patients, and barium swallow demonstrated hiatal hernia in 7 patients and reflux in 7 patients (5 with hiatal hernia). In addition, endoscopy detected mild esophagitis in 3 patients, and hiatal hernia in 11 patients. Postoperatively, the incidence of heartburn decreased in all patients, barium swallow showed slow channel emptying but no hiatal hernia or reflux, and endoscopy did not identify any esophagitis. Preoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure was 14.5 +/- 7.2 mm Hg. Postoperatively, the vertical banded gastroplasty channel had an initial peak (collar) pressure of 19.2 +/- 7.8 mm Hg (p less than 0.01 compared with preoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure), a channel pressure of 9.5 +/- 6 mm Hg, a lower esophageal sphincter pressure of 20.1 +/- 7.7 mm Hg (p less than 0.005), and a channel length of 6.8 +/- 1.4 cm. Vertical banded gastroplasty creates a high pressure channel, inhibiting reflux of gastric juice without the need for any additional procedure.

Gastroesophageal reflux in the massively obese.

Symptom review, barium swallow, endoscopy and esophageal manometry were performed on 55 massively obese patients, greater than twice ideal weight. Symptoms of reflux and/or heartburn were present in 40 patients (72.7%). Symptoms were present in 81.5% of the 27 patients aged greater than or equal to 35 yr and 64.3% of the 28 patients less than 35 yr (p less than 0.01). Upper GI series showed hiatal hernia in 16 and spontaneous reflux in 9 patients (7 with hiatal hernias). Endoscopy revealed hiatal hernia and/or esophagitis in 17 patients. Mean lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was 15.2 +/- 7.3 mmHg, with 47.3% of patients having subnormal pressure (less than 15). Patients greater than or equal to 35 yr had reduced LES pressure 11.9 +/- 6.4 mmHg, whereas patients less than 35 yr had LES pressure 18.6 +/- 6.7 (p less than 0.001). Of patients greater than or equal to 35 yr, 70.4% had subnormal LES pressure compared to 25.0% less than 35 yr. Incidence of reduced LES pressure increased as the graded severity of esophageal symptoms increased. Patients greater than or equal to 35 yr had significantly lower LES pressure and higher incidence of reflux symptoms than those younger. For comparison, asymptomatic control groups greater than or equal to and less than 35 yr showed no difference in LES pressure.