Adjustable Strabismus Surgery under Topical Anesthesia: Alignment in Supine vs Seated Position

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To compare ocular deviation in the operating room depending on whether the patient is in supine decubitus or seated after single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia.

Material and method: We performed a prospective observational study of 30 patients with horizontal and/or vertical strabismus who underwent single stage adjustable strabismus surgery under topical anesthesia. Both distance and near deviation were evaluated before surgery, during surgery in both positions (seated and supine), and at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. A final horizontal deviation <10 pd and a vertical deviation <5 pd without diplopia was considered to be a good outcome (3 months after surgery).

Results: The mean age of the sample was 55 years and 76.7% were women. Most had esotropia (70%). The most frequently used surgical combination was the medial rectus and lateral rectus (36.7%). Surgical adjustment was necessary in 40% of cases. Mean preoperative deviation was 21.9 ± 12.63 pd (distance) and 20.66 ± 4.76 (near). Deviation with the patient supine was 8 ± 8.25 pd (distance) and 7.26 ± 5.81 (near). Deviation with the patient seated was 8.13 pd±8.38 (distance) and 8.5 ± 7.41 (near). There was no significant difference between the positions. Outcome was favorable in 70% of patients; this percentage increased to 83.33% at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.

Conclusions: No statistically significant differences were found between ocular deviations in the seated or supine position in the operating room. Outcome was favorable in most cases 3 months after surgery. Intraoperative ocular deviation was not a predictor of outcome.

KEYWORDS:

• Suture adjustment
• topical anesthesia
• strabismus surgery
• supine decubitus versus seated position
• single-stage adjustable sutures