Prise en charge chirurgicale des diplopies dysthyroïdiennes

Abstract

Forty percent of thyroid-related orbitopathies are associated with strabismus. In the healing phase of disease, fibrous hypertrophy of extraocular muscles may result in restrictive myopathy. We report our experience of surgical management in these cases. We present a retrospective case series conducted on 42 patients, operated between September 1998 and April 2003. All patients underwent complete oculoplastic and orthoptic examinations. Muscular recession was performed in all cases, with general anesthesia in cases of clinical muscular restriction; adjustable recession with topical anesthesia was performed in cases of moderate muscular restriction. Postoperative alignment and elimination of diplopia in the functional position of the gaze were evaluated. The study included 42 patients (28 women, 14 men) with a mean age of 51 years. The mean follow-up was 48 months (range, 10 months to 6 years). Twenty-six patients presented vertical diplopia, 11 horizontal diplopia, and five mixed diplopia with a vertical and a horizontal component. These patients were operated on twice, beginning with vertical surgery. In cases of general anesthesia, muscular recession was adapted to an intraoperative forced duction test and a muscular elongation test. We obtained 94% good results for vertical diplopia and 81% for horizontal diplopia. Incomplete results were under correction. Adjustable muscular recession was adapted to intraoperative evaluation with patient participation. All patients had good results. Successful surgical treatment depends on precise identification of the muscles that are restricting motility and producing misalignment. We insist on the importance of an intraoperative forced duction test and a muscular elongation test in case of clinical muscular restriction. Adjustable surgery is useful in cases of moderate muscular fibrosis.