The efficacy of rectus muscle transposition surgery in esotropic Duane syndrome and VI nerve palsy

Abstract

Partial tendon transposition was first described by Hummelshein in 1907. Full tendon transposition was reported by Schillinger in 1959. Recently, full tendon transposition with posterior augmentation was reported by Foster in 1997. I will review current thinking concerning the anatomy and physiology of rectus muscle transposition and present our current clinical experience with this procedure in Duane syndrome. A retrospective review of vertical rectus muscle transposition procedures in patients with VI Nerve palsy was performed comparing the postoperative field of single binocular vision, amount of improved abduction, and change in the primary esotropic angle. In addition, a consecutive series of vertical rectus muscle transposition cases for the treatment of esotropic Duane syndrome is presented, evaluating the improvement and head position, abduction, and reduction of the primary position esotropia. In VI Nerve palsy patients, vertical rectus transposition surgery produces 41 degrees to 71 degrees of binocular visual field with 10 degrees to 21 degrees of binocular field in abduction. In esotropic Duane syndrome the surgical procedure produces 42 degrees to 66 degrees of binocular field and a correction of approximately 15 degrees of face turn. Variability in the efficacy of the procedure is related to the degree of ipsilateral medial rectus contracture. Vertical rectus transposition with posterior fixation can create a binocular diplopia-free field of 40 to 70 degrees in patients with VI Nerve palsy and about 40 to 65 degrees in patients with Duane syndrome. Partial rectus muscle transposition is an effective procedure in cases where surgery on multiple rectus muscles has been or will be required. Orbital wall fixation of the lateral rectus muscle is an effective and reversible method to inactivate a lateral rectus muscle and may be useful in cases of Duane syndrome with marked anomalous innervation and severe cocontraction.