Surgical Management of Isolated Inferior Rectus Paralysis following Traumatic Orbital Fracture

Abstract

Objective To study the diagnosis and surgical management of isolated inferior rectus paralysis following orbital trauma or caused by contusion at the time of surgical repair of a blow out orbital fracture.Methods In 8 patients with isolated inferior rectus paralysis,all of which had orbital fracture and 7 of them had history of surgical repair for orbital fracture,3.5mm～6mm resection of the paralyzed inferior rectus was done in 6 patients whose vertical deviation was less than 20△ in primary position;resection of inferior rectus combined with ipsilateral recession of superior rectus was done in other 2 patients whose vertical deviation was over 20△.Adjustable suture technique was used during surgery.The patients were followed up for more than 6 months.Results Postoperatively,5 patients were orthophoria without diplopia or abnormal head position,2 patients were 2△ over correction in primary position which became orthophoria during follow up,I patient was 4△ less correction with no diplopia and improved head position.Diplopia in primary and downward gaze position was disappeared in all the patients.Conclusions Resection of paralyzed inferior rectus is effective to correct vertical deviation both in primary and in downward gaze position for isolated inferior rectus paralysis.When the deviation is most pronounced in both downward and upward gaze position and the deviation in primary position is over 20△ resection and recession is effective to increase single binocular vision. Key words: Orbital fracture ; Inferior rectus paralysis ;