Characteristics of recession-resection and bimedial recession for childhood esotropia
G. B. Bartley, J. A. Dyer and D. M. Ilstrup
Of 367 unilateral medial rectus recessions-lateral rectus resections and
bilateral medial rectus recessions performed for childhood esotropia from
1960 through 1980, a total of 206 met the requirements for a comparative
study. Preoperative and postoperative amblyopia was more prevalent in the
recession-resection population and was attributed to the more common
occurrence of monocular esotropia in patients undergoing
recession-resection. Postoperative ocular alignment was better and the need
for subsequent strabismus surgery was less in patients who initially
underwent recession-resection. Because preoperative esotropia was found to
be significantly greater in three of the four categories recorded among the
bimedial recession population, we could not state that recession-resection
was the "better" operation. Contrary to our previous recommendations for
graded recessions, we now believe that maximal (5-mm) bimedial rectus
recessions should be performed initially.
