Symptomatic excyclotorsion following inferior transposition of both medial rectus muscles in patients with bilateral trochlear nerve palsy

J AAPOS. 2014 Oct;18(5):413-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2014.05.005. Epub 2014 Aug 10.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the development of a large degree of excyclotorsion following inferior transposition of the medial rectus muscles in 5 patients with bilateral acquired trochlear nerve palsies that had previously undergone bilateral modified Harada-Ito procedures.

Methods: The medical records of 5 patients who had undergone Harada-Ito procedure for bilateral trochlear nerve palsy between 2002 and 2010 and medial rectus muscle infraplacement surgery between 2004 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: All 5 patients underwent a Fells-modified Harada-Ito procedure. All remained symptomatic due to a V pattern (eso- or exodeviation). Bilateral inferior transposition of the medial rectus muscles of either half or full tendon width was performed to alleviate this residual diplopia. The vertical transposition resulted in a symptomatic large degree of excyclotorsion (mean of 20°), which required reversal of the procedure.

Conclusions: After inferior transposition of both medial rectus muscles in patients with bilateral superior oblique palsy who previously had bilateral modified Harada-Ito surgery, a large excyclotorsion (>20°) can occur. This can be managed by reversing the medial rectus transposition procedure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Diplopia / surgery*
  • Exotropia / surgery
  • Female
  • Head Injuries, Closed / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / etiology*
  • Oculomotor Muscles / transplantation*
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Torsion Abnormality / etiology*
  • Trochlear Nerve Diseases / surgery*
  • Vision, Binocular