Inferior rectus recession--an effective procedure?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the postoperative stability of inferior rectus recession, with particular reference to the incidence of progressive overcorrection.


METHODS
The results of consecutive patients undergoing inferior rectus recession over a 3 year period were reviewed.


RESULTS
21 patients underwent inferior rectus recession, using an adjustable suture technique in all but three cases. In 16 patients additional vertical muscle surgery was performed at the time of the inferior rectus recession. All patients were followed for a minimum of 3 months postoperatively, with a mean follow up of 9.3 months. At the final postoperative visit 11 patients were well aligned, eight were undercorrected, and two were overcorrected. In five of the eight undercorrected cases, the residual deviation was the result of postoperative drift in the direction of the preoperative deviation, following an initially good alignment. Review of the results failed to reveal any factor predictive for this postoperative drift.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of postoperative overcorrection following inferior rectus recession should be considered, but in this study, undercorrection occurred more frequently than overcorrection. The possible reasons for overcorrection and undercorrection are discussed.
Scotcher
S M
SM
Southampton Eye Unit.
O'Flynn
E A
EA
Morris
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004172:Diplopia / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome