Strabismus surgery using the adjustable suture technique

Background and Objective: To determine the results of adjustable suture tec hnique used in horizontal muscle surgery. Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight charts of patients who underwent strab ismus surgery between the years 1993 and 1995 were examined retrospectively . The study included 35 cases of esotropia (ET), and 43 cases of exotropia (XT). The results of strabismus surgery were measured and compared 1 day af ter adjustment; the final results between 6 and 24 months after the surgica l procedure. Results: Adjustment was required in 39% of all patients. The highest rate o f adjustment was required in patients who underwent monocular surgery for X T (51%), and the lowest rate of adjustment was undertaken in patients who u nderwent monocular surgery for ET (16%). Mean changes in the angle of devia tion between 1 day after surgery to the last follow up was 2.2 prism diopte rs (Delta) (+/-11.2 Delta) for cases of esotropia, and 4.6 Delta (+/-8.7 De lta) for exotropia. The most significant drift was found in patients with X T who underwent binocular surgery 6.8 Delta (+/-0.9 Delta) and the smallest drift was found in patients with ET who underwent binocular surgery 5.2 De lta (+/-5.6 Delta). Conclusion: Esotropic and exotropic patients have a tendency to drift towar ds their original deviation postoperatively. It is possible, therefore, tha t mild overcorrection in the early postoperative period will result in bett er long-term results.