Superior oblique adjustable suture surgery. A rabbit model

R. V. Keech
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.

Adjustable suture techniques have played a limited role in superior oblique muscle surgery. In this study, one of two different adjustable suture techniques was performed on the superior oblique muscle of 12 rabbit eyes. One day after surgery, each muscle was advanced using the adjustable suture and was permanently secured to the eye. No significant difference was noted in the amount of force (P = .4603) necessary to advance the muscle with either of the procedures. Postmortem examinations performed several weeks after both procedures demonstrated that the superior oblique muscle was firmly attached to the globe in the same position where it was left following the adjustment. Adjustable suture techniques may be useful alternatives to traditional superior oblique muscle surgery.