Congenital Superior Oblique Palsy Research Articles

Sternocleidomastoid muscle asymmetry in unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy

To determine whether there is an asymmetry in bilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) thickness in patients with unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy (SOP) and its association with surgical results. The medical records of 186 patients with head tilt secondary to unilateral SOP, who were evaluated for the status of the SCM with neck ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, were reviewed. The SCM asymmetry index was calculated as a bilateral difference in the maximal muscle thickness divided by each tilted-side SCM thickness. The presence of SCM asymmetry, defined as an index of >10%, and its relationship to residual torticollis ≥5° after SOP surgery were assessed. Of 186 patients with a median age of 1.2 years, SCM asymmetry was present in 102 (54.8%) patients (6.8 ± 1.9 mm for the SOP side vs. 6.6 ± 2.1 mm for the tilted side). The SCM asymmetry did not differ according to age, amount of head tilt or hypertropia. In the patients with SCM asymmetry, more patients (87.3%) underwent physiotherapy than those without asymmetry (61.9%) (P = 0.021). In 99 patients who underwent surgery for SOP, the resolution of torticollis was not significantly different between patients with and without SCM asymmetry (87.2% vs. 76.9%, P = 0.184). Nearly half of the patients with congenital SOP had SCM thickness asymmetry that was already determined at a young age. However, the surgical results did not differ significantly with respect to SCM asymmetry when physiotherapy was combined. Thus, SOP surgery can be considered despite preoperative SCM asymmetry.

Phoria Adaptation: The Ghost in the Machine

ABSTRACT Importance Phoria adaptation is a central tonus mechanism that provides plasticity to binocular alignment. However, its slow dissipation inevitably adulterates our clinical strabismus measurements. Purpose To examine the role of phoria adaptation in normal binocular control, understand its neural substrate, and explore how it can alter our clinical measurements in common forms of strabismus. Methods Investigation into the role of phoria adaptation in maintaining binocular alignment and its role in altering clinical strabismus measurement. Results Phoria adaptation permeates all aspects of binocular alignment. It accounts for the stability of orthophoria, “latent” phorias, tenacious proximal fusion in intermittent exotropia, large fusional vertical amplitudes in congenital superior oblique muscle palsy, the “eating up” of prisms in accommodative esotropia, the smaller measured distance deviation in patients with high AC/A ratio or convergence excess, absence of physiologic skew deviation during head tilt, fusional divergence amplitudes, and spread of comitance. This binocular control system probably arises from a cerebellar learning mechanism that involves input via climbing fibers to the inferior olive, which provide a powerful timing and error signal to the cerebellar Purkinje cells to produce activity-dependent modification analogous to long-term potentiation. Conclusions Phoria adaptation is generated by a central neural integrator that provides inertia, plasticity, and positional stability to human binocular vision.

Outcome of inferior oblique disinsertion versus myectomy in the surgical treatment of unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy

To compare the outcome of inferior oblique disinsertion and myectomy in patients with unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy. In this prospective study, consecutive patients with superior oblique palsy underwent either myectomy or disinsertion of the inferior oblique muscle. Success was defined as postoperative hypertropia of ≤5Δ in primary position and no hypotropia. In cases with preoperative hypertropia of ≤5Δ, success was defined as improved hypertropia and resolution of abnormal head position (AHP). A total of 62 patients were included: 34 underwent myectomy; 28, disinsertion. Preoperative primary position hypertropia was 15.8Δ ± 7.4Δ in the myectomy group and 14.5Δ ± 7.3Δ in the disinsertion (P=0.756). AHP was present in 85.3% and 85.7% of patients, respectively (P=1). Mean follow-up was in the myectomy group 7.5±6.7months and 6.9±3.0months in the disinsertion group (P=0.637). Correction of hypertropia in primary position was more pronounced in the myectomy group (14.3Δ±7.4Δ vs 10.0Δ±5.4Δ; P=0.013). Success was achieved in 91.2% of myectomy and 60.7% of disinsertion patients (P=0.006). Persistence of AHP did not differ between groups (8.8% in the myectomy group vs 7.1% in the disinsertion group [P=1]). Comparison of patients with preoperative hypertropia of ≤15Δ revealed nonsignificant differences between groups in rate of success (100% vs 81.3% [P=0.226]) and correction of primary position hypertropia (8.8Δ±3.2Δ vs 7.6Δ±4.0Δ [P=0.336]). In our study cohort, inferior oblique myectomy had a greater effect in reduction of primary position hypertropia; however, disinsertion proved as effective as myectomy if preoperative vertical deviation was ≤15Δ. Both procedures effectively corrected AHP and demonstrated self-adjustment.

Superior oblique tuck: evaluation of surgical outcomes

ABSTRACTPurpose: To report the surgical outcomes of the superior oblique tuck procedure in the management of superior oblique palsies performed at a single centre over a 25-year period. Methods: A retrospective study of superior oblique tuck performed as a primary and secondary procedure by a single surgeon over a 25-year period between 1992 and 2016. We evaluated patient demographics, the angle of deviation pre- and post-surgery in prism dioptres (PD), amount of muscle tuck surgery performed (mm), complications (iatrogenic Brown’s Syndrome) and improvement of diplopia post-operatively. Results: 162 eyes from 162 patients were identified. Gender = 108 male patients (66.67%). Mean age at the time of surgery = 45.94 years; laterality = 85 left eyes (52.47%). 110 patients (67.90%) = congenital superior oblique palsy. Mean post-op follow-up time = 7.5 months. Mean pre-operative angle of deviation = 15.88 PD (range = 4–35 PD); mean post-operative angle of deviation = 5.09 PD (range = 0–20 PD; p < 0.0001). 157 patients (96.91%) displayed a reduction in angle of deviation post-operatively. Overall mean reduction in the angle of deviation = 10.79 PD (range = 0–34 PD). Mean amount of muscle tucking = 9.75 mm (range = 3–20 mm). 24 patients (14.82%) experienced post-operative iatrogenic Brown’s syndrome but only two of these required further corrective surgery. 138 patients (85.19%) experienced improvement of diplopia post-operatively. Overall, 54 patients (33.33%) required additional extraocular muscle surgery to reduce diplopia further. Conclusions: This large series of superior oblique tuck procedures performed over a 25-year period, displays excellent surgical outcomes with regards to reduction of the angle of deviation, diplopia and limited complications.

Quantitative analysis of structure–function relationship between ocular motility and superior oblique muscle hypoplasia in unilateral superior oblique palsy

AimsTo determine the structure–function relationship between the degree of superior oblique (SO) hypoplasia and ocular motility in unilateral SO palsy.MethodsA total of 166 patients with unilateral SO palsy were divided...

Isolated Unilateral Strabismus Sursoadductorius (Congenital Trochlear Palsy) with and without Hypotrophia of the Superior Oblique Muscle-Orthoptic Differences in Adulthood

The clinical feature of unilateral decompensating strabismus sursoadductorius (dSSA; often called congenital superior oblique palsy, CSOP) is not an etiologically uniform entity. Hypotrophy of the superior oblique muscle (HMOS) is a frequent and immediate cause of dSSA/CSOP. In this study, clinical characteristics of dSSA/CSOP with and without HMOS are compared. Twenty-five consecutive patients (age 14 - 69 years; median 43 years) were included in this study, 14 with 3T MRI-proven HMOS (group 1) and 11 without HMOS (group 2). HMOS was defined as a reduction of the medio-lateral (ML) as well as based on ML and cranio-caudal (CC) diameter calculated area = (ML · CC/4) · π of the affected superior oblique muscle (SOM) < 80% in comparison to the contralateral SOM (measured on the single coronal image on which the muscle has its greatest extent). The two groups were compared in terms of head tilt, cyclo- and vertical deviation and the Bielschowsky head tilt test. Patients were classified according the Knapp's classification. Both the incidence of head tilt with 14/14 vs. 5/11 (χ2 = 0.003) and its degree: 11.1 ± 4.5° vs. 3.2 ± 4.1° (p < 0.001) was higher in group 1 than in group 2, as well as the Bielschowsky head tilt test: 9.3 ± 4.3° vs. 3.8 ± 4.9° (p = 0.008). The average amount of hypertropia was larger in group 1 than in group 2 during adduction: 16.7 ± 5.3° vs. 9.3 ± 3.4° (p < 0.001) as well as during adduction and downgaze of the affected eye: 14.6 ± 7.1 vs. 7.2 ± 3.7° (p = 0.03). In the sagittal plane, the increase of vertical deviation was larger in group 1 than in group 2: 2.8 ± 7.8 vs. - 2.4 ± 4.2 (p = 0.04); the excyclodeviation was larger in group 1 in all three planes (sagittal plane, adduction and abduction) in comparison to group 2: 1.3 ± 4.1 vs. - 2.9 ± 2.8 (p = 0.006), 2.4 ± 5.2 vs. - 2.2 ± 2.9 (p = 0.01), 0.5 ± 3.8 vs. - 2.7 ± 3.9 (p = 0.05). Knapp's class II was found in 6 of 15 patients in group 1 and only in this patient group (χ2 = 0.03). In both groups, the vertical deviation showed a great dispersion. In patients without HMOS (group 2), vertical deviation in adduction did not exceed 15°. Patients with HMOS (group 1) do not show the typical features of a later acquired trochlear palsy due to an early developed compensating innervation. A vertical deviation in adduction of more than 15°, increasing excyclodeviation towards downgaze in all three planes (sagittal plane, adduction and abduction) and Knapp's class II are relatively reliable predictors of a hypoplasia of the SOM. An internationally uniform term for this group of patients, such as superior oblique weakness or superior oblique hypotrophy, would be desirable.

Predictive factors for corrective effect of inferior rectus recession for congenital superior oblique palsy.

To identify preoperative factors associated with the surgical corrective effect of contralateral inferior rectus recession (IRR) for vertical deviation in patients with congenital superior oblique palsy (SOP). This retrospective study included 20 treatment-naïve patients with unilateral congenital SOP (age range, 6-79years) who underwent contralateral IRR according to our basic policy to select IRR for paretic eye fixation. The corrective effect (°/mm) of IRR was defined as the difference in the vertical deviation at the primary gaze position between before and 6-18months after surgery per distance of recession. We also measured the preoperative vertical deviation at primary and secondary gaze positions, and vertical deviation with head-tilting, and calculated the difference in vertical deviation between these positions. We analyzed the correlation between the corrective effect of IRR and these study parameters. The mean corrective effect of IRR was 2.4±1.6°/mm, which had a significant correlation with preoperative differences in vertical deviation between the primary gaze position and the downward (P=0.004, r=-0.61) and contralateral gaze positions (P=0.03, r=-0.48); and the presence of preoperative stereopsis (P=0.02, r=-0.51). After excluding a statistical outlier, the correlation between the corrective effect and the difference between the primary and contralateral gaze positions was no longer significant (P=0.07), while the other two relationships remained significant. Our findings suggest that preoperative differences in vertical deviation between the primary and downward gaze positions and the presence of preoperative stereopsis are important considerations prior to performing IRR for congenital SOP, particularly with paretic eye fixation.

The influence of ocular sighting dominance on Fundus torsion in patients with unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy.

The purpose of our study was to determine whether ocular sighting dominance may influence the ocular torsion in patients with unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy (UCSOP). This retrospective study included 22 UCSOP patients with radiologic evidence of unilateral superior oblique muscle hypoplasia on orbital magnetic resonance imaging and 66 healthy individuals with normal ocular motility as controls. Ocular torsion was assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively using digital fundus photography. The disc-fovea angle (DFA) was measured quantitatively using image software on a computer screen. All fundus photographs were qualitatively graded as normal torsion, extorsion, or intorsion in all subjects, based on the location of the optic disc relative to the fovea, according to the Bixenman and von Noorden's criteria. Ocular sighting dominance was assessed by the hole-in-the-card test and the pointing test. The Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used to determine the association between the ocular sighting dominance and the ocular torsion. The median DFA was significantly larger in the eyes of patients with UCSOP (9.1° in the paretic eyes and 9.3° in the non-paretic eyes) than the eyes of the control group (4.3°, p<0.001 for both). Ocular dominance tests displayed that, among 22 patients, 11 were paretic eye dominant and the other 11 were non-paretic eye dominant. The sighting-dominant eyes demonstrated significantly smaller median DFA than the non-dominant eyes (8.3° and 10.7°, respectively, p=0.033), regardless of which eyes were paretic. Ten eyes of ten patients had extorsion, none had intorsion, and all the eyes of remaining 12 patients had no abnormal torsion, qualitatively. All the eyes showing extorsion in fundus photography were non-dominant eyes, regardless of whether the eyes were paretic or non-paretic. Our findings illuminate the importance of considering ocular sighting dominance for properly assessing ocular torsion in patients with UCSOP. Ocular sighting dominance may have an influence on objective ocular torsion in a way that decreases the torsion in the dominant eye, thereby hindering the abnormal ocular torsion from appearing in that eye.

Are we overlooking masked bilateral congenital superior oblique palsy in children: is it possible to diagnose before surgery?

To describe the characteristics of children who had subsequent contralateral superior oblique underaction (SOUA) and inferior oblique overaction (IOOA) after unilateral inferior oblique weakening surgery and to identify suggestive clinical features for masked bilateral fourth nerve palsy. The medical records of children who underwent unilateral inferior oblique tenotomy as a single procedure for unilateral superior oblique palsy were all reviewed. Diagnosis was based on evaluation of ocular misalignment in nine diagnostic gaze positions and presence of SOUA, IOOA, and abnormal head position. The study was conducted with 29 children. All children had preoperative unilateral IOOA and SOUA. Eleven children (37.9%) had hyperesodeviation in the affected eye, while others (62.1%) had hyperexodeviation. The mean age at surgery was 6.66±1.87 (4-10) years. The mean vertical deviation, exodeviation, and the amount of IOOA were decreased postoperatively (p<0.001 for all). Among the 29 children, 22 had no residual ipsilateral IOOA, 2 had ipsilateral IOOA, and 5 had ipsilateral inferior oblique underaction (IOUA) at last visit. Three children had contralateral SOUA, IOOA, and hyperdeviation at follow-up visits, one of whom had IOUA on the operated eye. There was no difference of preoperative features between children with or without subsequent contralateral superior oblique palsy. Bilateral congenital superior oblique palsy may be overlooked in children in spite of detailed preoperative evaluation. Masked bilaterality should always be kept in mind in cases with unilateral pathology. Patients should be informed about the possibility of bilaterality.

Combined Surgery for Simultaneous Treatment of Congenital Ptosis and Coexisting Strabismus.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of single-stage surgery for treatment of patients with congenital ptosis and coexisting strabismus. A retrospective analysis was performed on 10 patients (17 eyes) with congenital ptosis and coexisting strabismus. Patients were treated with levator resection or frontalis suspension for ptosis and ocular muscle surgery for strabismus, performed as a single-stage procedure. Levator resection was performed in 9 patients (15 eyes) and frontalis muscle flap suspension was performed in 1 patient (2 eyes) with blepharophimosis. Seven patients (11 eyes) simultaneously underwent exotropia correction, and inferior oblique myectomy was performed in 3 patients (3 eyes) with congenital superior oblique palsy. Satisfactory efficacy of single-stage surgery for correction of congenital ptosis and coexisting strabismus was achieved without complications. Comprehensive preoperative examination is vital to determine the appropriate diagnosis and guide surgical decision-making. Single-stage surgery for congenital ptosis and coexisting strabismus is effective and a shortened treatment period is beneficial to patients. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2017;54(5):288-294.].

The observation on efficacy of surgery for congenital unilateral superior oblique palsy

Objective To observe the efficacy of the surgery for congenital unilateral superior oblique palsy. Methods The medical records of 124 patients that underwent surgery for congennital unilateral superior oblique palsy from Oct. 2014 to Dec.2015 at Shanxi Eye Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The chinical feature, the surgical procedures and efficacy were analyzed. Results The patients were followed up for 5-14 months after surgery. There were 110 cases recovered(88.71%), 12 cases improved(9.68%), and 2 cases invalid(1.61%). Conclusion Surgery is an effective method for congenital superior oblique palsy, the effectiveness rate is over 98%. Key words: Superior oblique palsy, congenital, unilateral; Surgery; efficacy

Surgical treatment of superior oblique palsy: Predictors of outcome.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcome of surgically treated superior oblique palsy (SOP) and the factors involved in its resolution.Methods:We performed a retrospective study of 76 patients who underwent surgery for SOP. We recorded data from the physical examination and the number and type of procedures performed. Favorable outcome was defined as resolution of or improvement in torticollis (≤5°) and diplopia in primary position (PP) and downgaze or as vertical deviation (VD) <5 prism diopters (pd) in PP and 10 pd in the oblique diagnostic position.Results:Mean age was 33.12 years. Congenital SOP was the most frequent type (65.8%). Mean preoperative VD was 15.89 ± 9.94 pd, decreasing to 3.07 ± 4.36 pd after surgery. Associated horizontal deviation was recorded in 51.32% of cases. The mean number of procedures was 1.37 ± 0.62 (range 1–4), with 69.7% of patients requiring only one procedure. The mean number of muscles operated on was 1.96 ± 1.01 (inferior oblique being the most frequent). A greater reduction in VD after surgery was observed in patients with congenital SOP (P = 0.04). Although none of the factors evaluated influenced surgical outcome, amblyopic patients had a greater risk of reoperation (P = 0.04). A favorable outcome was achieved in 75% of cases. Mean follow-up was 37.08 months.Conclusion:Congenital SOP was twice as frequent as acquired SOP and although surgery was successful in most cases, a greater reduction in VD was obtained in congenital cases. Amblyopia was identified as a risk factor for reoperation.

Pseudoamblyopia in Congenital Cyclotropia.

Purpose To study the effect of surgery on amblyopia and suppression associated with congenital cyclovertical strabismus. Methods The fixation pattern was investigated with microperimetry before and soon after surgery in ten consecutive children operated for congenital superior oblique palsy at the S. Martino Hospital, Belluno, Italy, between September 2014 and December 2015. Changes in visual performance in terms of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and stereopsis between the day before and one week after surgery were also evaluated. No other amblyopia treatment has been administered during the time study. Results Surgical correction of the excyclodeviation in congenital SO palsy determined monocular and binocular sensory consequences: monocularly, in the cyclodeviated amblyopic eye, BCVA (0.46–0.03 LogMAR; p < 0.0001) and the fixation pattern improved, as demonstrated by microperimetry examination. Binocularly, stereopsis improved or emerged while suppression at the Worth four-dot test disappeared. Conclusions In the absence of further amblyopic factors such as coexisting constant vertical and/or horizontal deviation and anisometropia, the amblyopia encountered in congenital SO palsy may resolve soon after the surgical alignment. Therefore, it may be considered and defined “pseudoamblyopia.”

The effect of superior oblique tucking on the Bielschowsky head tilt test

To investigate the effect of superior oblique tucking on the Bielschowsky head tilt test. A retrospective analysis of 22 patients with congenital unilateral superior oblique palsy, who underwent tucking of the superior oblique tendon in Tianjin Eye Hospital, depending on vertical deviation in the primary position, ocular motility, objective cyclotorsion and abnormal head posture. Bielschowsky head tilt test was evaluated quantitatively by the prism cover test. Α positive Bielschowsky head tilt test was defined as one in which the vertical deviation when the head tilt to the side of the paresis was at least 5. 0(△) greater than that on tilt to the uninvolved side. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 12 months (mean 4.6 months). Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), Rank sum test and Spearman correlation analysis statistical methods were used in this study. All patients had vertical deviation and significant abnormal head posture before operation. After the procedure of superior oblique tucking,vertical deviation and symptom of unacceptable abnormal head posture were ameliorated or disappeared. OBJECTIVE torsion was 15.62°±7.36° before the surgery, 9.91°±10.09°1d after the surgery and 11.25°±9.17°at the last follow-up visit, respectively (P<0.05). We found that there were positive correlations between the objective cyclotorsion and the vertical deviation difference value between the paralyzed side and uninvolved side at 1 d after the surgery and last follow-up visit(P<0.05). The vertical deviation of the paresised eye when the head tilted to the side of paresis side and uninvolved side difference were 5.00(△)-17.00(△), average 8.68(△)±3.23(△), 1.00(△)-8.00(△),average 3.36(△)±2.01(△) and 0.00(△)-14.00(△),average 3.77(△)±3.01(△), preoperatively, 1d after the surgery and at the last follow-up visit respectively. Using Rank sum test, the pre-and postoperative difference was statistically significant (Z=-4.64, P<0.01). A positive Bielschowsky head tilt test was found in all cases preoperatively. The results of Bielschowsky tilt test was still positive in 5 cases and negative in 17 cases (77.3%). In most cases with unilateral superior oblique paresis, the results of Bielschowsky tilt test became negative after superior oblique tucking. The long-standing results is worthy of observation. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2016, 52: 589-595).

Surgical Outcomes of Inferior Oblique Myectomy in Unilateral Congenital Superior Oblique Palsy with or without Trochlear Nerve

ObjectivesTo compare the surgical outcomes of inferior oblique (IO) myectomy in congenital superior oblique palsy (SOP) according to the presence of the trochlear nerve identified with high-resolution MRI.Data ExtractionForty-one congenital SOP patients without a trochlear nerve (absent group) and 23 patients with a trochlear nerve (present group) who underwent IO myectomy as the primary surgical treatment were retrospectively reviewed. “Motor success” was defined as postoperative ipsilateral hypertropia ≤ 4 prism diopter (PD). “Head tilt improvement” was regarded as postoperative angle of head tilt < 5 degrees (°). Success rates for motor alignment and head tilt improvement, cumulative probabilities of success, and factors influencing surgical responses were evaluated.ResultsThe cumulative probabilities of motor success at 2 years after IO myectomy were 92% in patients with a trochlear nerve and 86% in patients without a trochlear nerve (P = 0.138). The cumulative probabilities of undercorrection and recurrence of hypertropia after 2 years were 0% in the present group versus 21% in the absent group (P = 0.014). The cumulative probabilities of persistent head tilt after 2 years were 14% in the present group and 20% in the absent group (P = 0.486). A younger age at operation was associated with reduced probabilities of motor success and head tilt improvement (P = 0.009, P = 0.022 respectively). A greater preoperative angle of head tilt was associated with persistent head tilt after surgery (P = 0.038).ConclusionsCongenital SOP without a trochlear nerve had a higher risk of hypertropia undercorrection after IO myectomy compared to patients with a trochlear nerve. A younger age at operation and larger preoperative head tilt was related to poor outcomes.

Malposition of Teeth and Jaws in Patients with Congenital Superior Oblique Palsy.

Patients with congenital superior oblique palsy tend to adopt a head tilt to the contralateral side to maintain binocular single vision. It has long been recognised that facial asymmetries may be caused by a head tilt. The aim of this study was to describe the effect of habitual head tilt due to congenital superior oblique palsy on dental occlusion. The study was designed as a descriptive cohort study. Ten patients with congenital superior oblique palsy (3 female, 7 male; mean age 51.7 (y) ± 15.8 SD, ranging from 19 to 69 (y)) underwent orthodontic examination. Orthodontic findings and values for vertical, torsional and horizontal deviation measured with the Harms tangent screen and stereopsis using a random dot test were compared. Three orthodontic parameters were found to correlate significantly or at least as trend with orthoptic parameters. Midline deviation of the upper jaw to the face (rho = 0.623; p = 0.054) and anterior positioning of upper first molar in the sagittal plane (rho = 0.594; p = 0.07) correlate with the vertical deviation; overbite correlates with horizontal deviation measured in the primary position (rho = 0.768; p = 0.016). In this small study, three orthodontic parameters correlated with orthoptic findings in patients with congenital superior oblique palsy. Further studies are needed to establish whether congenital superior oblique palsy is more frequent in patients exhibiting abnormal values of these orthodontic parameters.

Rectus Pulley Displacements without Abnormal Oblique Contractility Explain Strabismus in Superior Oblique Palsy

Using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated whether rectus pulleys are significantly displaced in superior oblique (SO) palsy and whether displacements account for strabismus patterns. Prospective case-control study. Twenty-four patients diagnosed with SO palsy based on atrophy of the SO muscle on MRI and 19 age-matched orthotropic control subjects. High-resolution, surface coil MRI scans were obtained in multiple, contiguous, quasicoronal planes during monocular central gaze fixation. Pulley locations in oculocentric coordinates in the following subgroups of patients with SO palsy were compared with normal results in subgroups of patients with SO palsy: unilateral versus bilateral, congenital versus acquired, and isotropic (round) versus anisotropic (elongated) SO atrophy. Expected effects of pulley displacements were modeled using Orbit 1.8 (Eidactics, San Francisco, CA) computational simulation. Rectus pulley positions and ocular torsion. Rectus pulleys typically were displaced in SO palsy. In unilateral SO palsy, on average the medial rectus (MR) pulley was displaced 1.1 mm superiorly, the superior rectus (SR) pulley was displaced 0.8 mm temporally, and the inferior rectus (IR) pulley was displaced 0.6 mm superiorly and 0.9 mm nasally from normal. Displacements were similar in bilateral SO palsy, with the SR pulley additionally displaced 0.9 mm superiorly. However, the lateral rectus pulley was not displaced in either unilateral or bilateral SO palsy. The SR and MR pulleys were displaced in congenital SO palsy, whereas the IR and MR pulleys were displaced in acquired palsy. Pulley positions did not differ between isotropic and anisotropic palsy or between patients with cyclotropia of less than 7° versus cyclotropia of 7° or more. Simulations predicted that the observed pulley displacements alone could cause patterns of incomitant strabismus typical of SO palsy, without requiring any abnormality of SO or inferior oblique strength. Rectus pulley displacements alone, without abnormal oblique muscle contractility, can createthe clinical patterns of incomitant strabismus in SO palsy. This finding supports accumulating evidencethat clinical binocular misalignment patterns are not reliable indicators of contractile function of the SO muscle. Ocular torsion does not correlate with and thus cannot account for pulley displacements in SO palsy.

Graded recession with or without anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle for treatment of unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy

Graded recession with or without anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle for treatment of unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy

A case of missed ocular torticollis.

Torticollis is defined by head tilt toward the contractured muscle and chin rotation to the opposite direction, and can lead to secondary problems such as plagiocephaly, scoliosis, delayed cognitive development and impaired balance [Cooperman, 1997]. Torticollises are a common cause of referral to rehabilitation clinics in the pediatric setting. The etiologies of torticollis may be orthopedic, neurologic or ocular. Congenital muscular torticollis due to sternocleidomastoid contracture is the most common type in infants and may be treated with conservative treatment such as muscle stretching. Surgery is recommended in congenital muscular torticollis if conservative treatment is ineffective or if it results in progressive maxillofacial asymmetry [Suhr and Oledzka, 2015]. Other causes are ocular torticollis due to ocular muscle weakness, Sandifer’s syndrome due to gastroesophageal reflux, neural axis abnormalities and benign paroxysmal torticollis. Ocular torticollis usually occurs due to different ophthalmic conditions, including paralytic and restrictive disorders of ocular movement, nystagmus and defects of the visual field [Herman, 2006]. Here we report a missed ocular torticollis in a girl with presumed congenital muscular torticollis. Case presentation A 5-year-old girl with presumed congenital muscular torticollis underwent left sternocleidomastoid muscle-release surgery. As the patient’s symptoms were not improved after surgery, she was referred to a physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic for further physical treatment. The child had left-side head tilt and chin rotation to the right side with normal passive range of motion. There was no facial asymmetry. Musculoskeletal and neurologic evaluations and cervical vertebrae imaging were normal and there was no evidence of muscular mass or shortening in neck muscles. The patient underwent several sessions of physiotherapy, but despite the normal range of motion, head tilt was not corrected. For further evaluations, she was referred to an ophthalmologist. In ocular motility examination, there was right hypertropia and overaction of the right inferior oblique muscle with underaction of the right superior oblique muscle. Visual acuity was 10 out of 10. The patient was diagnosed with congenital right superior oblique palsy and underwent right inferior oblique muscle weakening. In follow-up examination 1 week after surgery, hypertropia was eliminated and head tilt was corrected.

Treatment and diagnosis of congenital fourth nerve palsies: an update.

This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital fourth nerve palsies. High-definition MRI, which can now more accurately image the trochlear nerve, has increased our understanding of the pathology of fourth nerve palsies. A more sensitive two-step test is proposed to replace the three-step Parks-Bielschowsky test. Procedures strengthening the superior oblique tendon can be performed with a low incidence of secondary Brown syndrome. Recent MRI studies have shown two pathological mechanisms associated with congenital superior oblique palsies. Superior oblique tuck combined with inferior oblique recession is a very effective way of eliminating head tilt secondary to congenital fourth nerve palsies.