News
UCEC Develops Improved Strabismus Surgical Technique
Dr. Engel and Dr. Rousta have developed a procedure which uses adjustable sutures in children, reducing the need for a second operation. They have recently published their experience with this technique in a major article in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
Strabismus surgery involves moving the eye muscles to a different location, but because the eyes are generally straight while under anesthesia, the surgeon can only evaluate the surgery’s success after the operation is complete and the patient is awake. With adjustable sutures, modification is possible following the surgery.
The standard adjustable suture technique leaves the surgical incision open at the end of surgery, requiring an additional procedure after the surgery, even if no adjustment is necessary. In the past, only adult and teenage patients had the adjustable suture technique performed because young children cannot endure having surgical instrument near the eyes.
In the adjustable suture technique developed by Dr. Engel and Dr. Rousta, the incision is closed after surgery, thus eliminating the need for a second procedure if adjustment is not necessary. For those children who need an adjustment, only a brief intravenous sedative is necessary for the adjustment.
Dr. Engel and Rousta found that in addition to the decrease in discomfort, the technique was associated with a better outcome, with an overall success rate of over 90% in the more than 200 children they studied.
Spring
2004 newsletter (more detailed description of technique)