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Case of the week 160  ( Februray 2014 )
Congenital Superior Oblique Palsy



The mother of this 6 years old boy complains about the head tilt of her son which became obvious when he became old enough to sit down on his own.
Examination showed :
Vision 6/6     6/6
Bilateral normal fundi

 



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Congenital Superior Oblique Palsy

Superior oblique palsy is the most common oculo-motor nerve palsy encountered by strabismologists and should not present any diagnosis difficulties   .
The 3 step test (positive Bielschowsky test) - Hypertropia in the primary position increases on looking nasally and on head tilt to the same side of the hypertropia - is diagnostic of SO palsy

A striking feature in this child is the facial asymmetry with a much larger cheek on the left side -  the side of the paretic hypertropic eye -  this larger cheek is diagnostic of congenital origin of the paretic SO.  In a case like this it is especially important to determine the status of the superior oblique tendon. This is the type of patient where the tendon may be absent or extremely loose. It is the responsibility of the surgeon to do careful superior oblique tendon traction test  , if laxity is suspected ,  it should be confirmed by exploration of the superior oblique tendon at the time of surgery. This is a very important point in decision making , loose SO tendon favors SO tucking , while normal SO tendon favors IO myotomy


Post Operative

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