Matthew D Benson1, Julianna Wozniak1, Ian M MacDonald2. 1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. 2. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.. Electronic address: macdonal@ualberta.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the reoperation rate in a large group of pediatric and adult strabismus patients over a 21-year period in Northern Alberta, Canada. METHODS: A retrospective review of 6177 strabismus surgeries from July 1995 to June 2015 on 5125 pediatric and adult patients was conducted to determine the reoperation rate at a single major referral centre. A set of guidelines was implemented in November 2014 recommending delaying reintervention for at least 12 weeks from the initial surgery, with specific exceptions. RESULTS: The historical strabismus reoperation rate over a 21-year period was 15.7%. Of those surgeries requiring reoperation, 77.7% required only 1 reoperation, 17.1% required 2 reoperations, 3.1% required 3 reoperations, and 2.1% required 4 or more reoperations. The mean time between surgeries for patients undergoing reoperation was 2.3 years and the median time was 1.0 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides insight into the strabismus reoperation rate and the number of subsequent surgeries performed for patients over a 21-year period. Although preoperative ocular alignment, comorbidities, and the status of the operative eye modify the probability of reoperation, our results from a large cohort of patients provide an impression of the rate of reoperation and may be of benefit in the preoperative counseling of patients. Furthermore, we highlight the scarcity of guidelines for the appropriate timing of reoperation. The implementation of specific guidelines may encourage future investigation into trends in reoperation over time and promote ways to avoid unnecessary surgeries, lower health care costs to stakeholders, and ultimately improve patient care.
OBJECTIVE: To report the reoperation rate in a large group of pediatric and adult strabismus patients over a 21-year period in Northern Alberta, Canada. METHODS: A retrospective review of 6177 strabismus surgeries from July 1995 to June 2015 on 5125 pediatric and adult patients was conducted to determine the reoperation rate at a single major referral centre. A set of guidelines was implemented in November 2014 recommending delaying reintervention for at least 12 weeks from the initial surgery, with specific exceptions. RESULTS: The historical strabismus reoperation rate over a 21-year period was 15.7%. Of those surgeries requiring reoperation, 77.7% required only 1 reoperation, 17.1% required 2 reoperations, 3.1% required 3 reoperations, and 2.1% required 4 or more reoperations. The mean time between surgeries for patients undergoing reoperation was 2.3 years and the median time was 1.0 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides insight into the strabismus reoperation rate and the number of subsequent surgeries performed for patients over a 21-year period. Although preoperative ocular alignment, comorbidities, and the status of the operative eye modify the probability of reoperation, our results from a large cohort of patients provide an impression of the rate of reoperation and may be of benefit in the preoperative counseling of patients. Furthermore, we highlight the scarcity of guidelines for the appropriate timing of reoperation. The implementation of specific guidelines may encourage future investigation into trends in reoperation over time and promote ways to avoid unnecessary surgeries, lower health care costs to stakeholders, and ultimately improve patient care.