Authors:

Abstract

Aim: Inferior rectus recession (IRR) surgery has been reported to be unstable, and there have been particular concerns about progressive overcorrec­tion. This study reviewed the vertical outcomes following IRR surgery in order to observe post­operative stability.

Methods: A retrospective review is presented of all IRR surgery by a single surgeon from January 1996 to March 2006.

Results: A total of 42 cases were included, with adjustable sutures being used in 40. The mean follow-­up was 9 months. The mean (median) pre-operative vertical deviation in the primary position was 19.8^Δ(20^Δ) pre-operatively, reducing to 5.2^Δ (2^Δ) at the final post-operative visit. The aim of a small undercorrection within the patient’s vertical fusion range was achieved in all cases, after adjustment if necessary. By the end of follow-up, 35 (83%) patients retained a satisfactory result, 5 (12%) were over­corrected and 2 (5%) were undercorrected. Twenty-five (60%) remained orthophoric or undercorrected, while 17 (40%) progressed from a planned undercorrection to an overcorrection. Overcorrection was significantly more common in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients (12/20) than the non-TED patients (5/22) (p = 0.014, chi-square). Three patients (7%) demonstrated progressive overcorrection, all of whom had TF.D.

Keywords: Adjustable sutures, Inferior rectus reces¬sion, Progressive overcorrection, Thyroid eye disease