Coincident resection-recession (tenectomy-recession) of the medial rectus muscle, bilaterally, for the treatment of esotropia: results in 18 cases.

PURPOSE

To study the effect of preceding tenectomy of the medial rectus tendon on the results of medial rectus muscle recession.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Eighteen consecutive cases of incomitant esotropia were retrospectively reviewed. The average preoperative esotropia was 35 PD with an incomitant deviation between 10 PD and 30 PD. All patients underwent 7 mm bilateral medial rectus muscle recession after 4 mm tenectomy of the anterior medial rectus muscle.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (78%) had "satisfactory" results (within 10 PD static esodeviation and 12 PD dynamic deviation [incomitance]). Four (22%) were undercorrected. One showed a postoperative consecutive exotropia of 4 PD at distance only.

CONCLUSIONS

Tenectomy of the anterior muscle tendon preceding large recessions of the medial rectus was effective in reducing the frequency of overcorrection (consecutive exotropia). Undercorrection did not appear to be more common.