[Surgical management of strabismus in dysthyroid orbitopathy: A retrospective single-center study of 32 cases]

J Fr Ophtalmol. 2018 Oct;41(8):687-695. doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2017.12.011. Epub 2018 Sep 11.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid-related immune orbitopathy often results in a restrictive strabismus. We report our experience of surgical management in these cases.

Patients and methods: We present a retrospective case series conducted on 32 patients, operated between 2008 and 2017. Strabismus surgery was proposed in the postinflammatory stage with stable clinical findings for at least 6 months. It was performed under general anesthesia by recessions of restrictive muscles using a fixed suture technique. Outcomes were graded as excellent, good or poor, according to the presence or absence of diplopia in primary or reading positions, and according to whether prism prescription was necessary.

Results: The study included 32 patients (21 women, 11 men) with a mean age of 53 years. Average follow-up was 9.6 months. Eight patients developed diplopia after orbital decompression. Fifteen patients had vertical surgery, 8 horizontal surgery, 9 mixed surgery. A mean of 1.31 surgeries (range 1-3) were performed. After all surgeries, 28 patients (87.5 %) had an excellent outcome, 4 (12.5 %) had a good outcome, and none had a poor outcome. There was a significant improvement in stereoscopic acuity (P<0.01), but not motility. Among the 8 patients who developed diplopia after orbital decompression, a clinically acceptable final outcome was achieved after only one surgery.

Conclusion: Strabismus surgery using conventional non-adjustable sutures provides excellent ocular alignment and relief from diplopia in the majority of patients with dysthyroid strabismus. The reoperation rate is similar to other techniques, such adjustable suture and intraoperative relaxed muscle technique.

Keywords: Chirurgie de strabisme; Diplopia; Diplopie; Dysthyroid orbitopathy; Graves’ disease; Maladie de Basedow; Orbitopathie dysthyroïdienne; Strabismus surgery.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Decompression, Surgical / methods
  • Decompression, Surgical / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Graves Ophthalmopathy / complications
  • Graves Ophthalmopathy / epidemiology
  • Graves Ophthalmopathy / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / statistics & numerical data
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Strabismus / complications
  • Strabismus / epidemiology
  • Strabismus / surgery*