Kestenbaum-Anderson Procedure

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Overview

The Kestenbaum-Anderson procedure is a type of strabismus surgery done in patients with nystagmus to mechanically shift the null point to primary position.[1] This article details this, and other approaches, to surgical correction of anomalous head position related to nystagmus.

History

Patients with nystagmus frequently have a null point, or a gaze direction in which the amplitude of their nystagmoid jerks are minimized compared to other gazes.[2] In order to bring a fixation target into their null point and thereby optimize their vision, these patients may adopt anomalous head positions (AHP). AHP is common in nystagmus and can be measured with an articulated protractor, called a goniometer.[3] Reported incidences of AHP vary from 19% - 94%.[4] [5] [6]

A surgical approach to treating the AHP associated with nystagmus was originally suggested independently by both Anderson[7] and Kestenbaum[8] in 1953 as a means of mechanically bringing the null point into primary position. Kestenbaum’s suggestion was to operate on all four horizontal muscles, and this is the approach most commonly used today.[9] His initial recommendation was to perform 5mm resection and recessions on all four muscles, which is considered insufficient to treat AHP for a typical patient. This approach was amended in 1973 by Parks et al.[10] with the “5, 6, 7, 8” approach. Later researchers proposed an “augmented Parks” surgery, with doses being increased to match larger angles of head turn – 40% increase if the angle was greater than 30⁰, and 60% if the angle was greater than 45⁰.[11] [12] Many other authors have suggested varying surgical dosages.[13] [14] [15]

Indications and Goals

Surgical intervention can be considered in patients with nystagmus with anomalous head positioning greater than 20⁰.[9] The goal of surgery is to reposition the eyes toward the head turn, away from the gaze direction of the null point. In other words, to weaken the ability to gaze in the direction of the null point. The Kestenbaum-Anderson procedure may be performed for patients with horizontal head turn which is the most common presentation, though vertical head turn and head tilt null points can occur.[14] Furthermore, up to 43% of patients can expect an improvement in best corrected visual acuity and a 60% decrease in recognition times.[1][15][16] [17][18]

Presurgical Evaluation

A full ocular examination should be performed including refraction with cycloplegia (astigmatism and anisometropia are common).[9] [14] The need for additional workup must be addressed, especially in acquired nystagmus which may be related to a neurologic disorder, ocular disorder, or other afferent pathway disorder.

The head position should be carefully observed to ensure there is only a single null point and the null point is consistent over time. The degree of head turn should be measured using a goniometer for planning of surgical dosage. The goniometer is used by placing one arm of the device in the direction of the visual axis and the other in the axis of the head.[3]

There is no optimal timing for the procedure. It is reasonable to delay those with congenital nystagmus until near school age and those with acquired nystagmus for at least a year with multiple visits to measure a repeatable degree of AHP.

Procedure and Dosing

Horizontal Head Turn

The typical approach is essentially the same as what was originally suggested by Kestenbaum[8] with alterations in the dosage to match the degree of head turn. It is helpful to think of the procedure as essentially moving the eyes away from the null point toward primary position. Where there is a gaze preference, there is one abducting eye and one adducting eye. The surgery is performed with recession of the lateral rectus and resection of the medial rectus of the abducting eye, followed by recession of the medial rectus and resection of the lateral rectus for the adducting eye.[14]

There are many approaches to surgical dosing.[11] [12] [13] [14][19] [20]

As mentioned earlier, the classic Parks dosing is “5,6,7,8” with each eye receiving the same 13 mm of surgery: a 5 mm recession of the medial rectus of the adducting eye and a 7 mm recession of the lateral rectus of the adducting eye, and a corresponding 6 mm resection of the medial rectus of the abducting eye and an 8mm resection of the lateral rectus of the adducting eye.[10]

One common method is referred to as “augmented Parks” and was originally suggested by Calhoun[11] and Nelson.[12] For this approach, the “5, 6, 7, 8” dosing from Parks et al.[10] is augmented according to the degree of head turn. For angles greater than or equal to 30⁰, a 40% increase is used (i.e., 7, 8.4, 9.8, 11.2 mm). For angles greater than or equal to 45⁰, a 60% increase is used (i.e., 8, 9, 11.2, 12.8 mm).

A detailed account of common techniques and instrumentation for horizontal extraocular muscle surgery is described elsewhere. https://eyewiki.aao.org/Strabismus%20Surgery%2C%20Horizontal.[21]

Vertical Posturing

For a chin elevation or depression head position, the same principle of repositioning the eyes away from the gaze direction of the null point – meaning in the direction of the head turn – should be used.[14] For example, in order to correct chin elevation in nystagmus the inferior recti could be recessed 7-8mm each and the superior recti should be resected 7-8mm each.[5] Other alternatives including inferior oblique anterior transposition combined with superior rectus recession have been described for chin down head position.[22] A detailed account of common techniques and instrumentation for vertical extraocular muscle surgery is described elsewhere.[23]

Head Tilt

For pure head tilt, multiple different procedures have been described, including oblique muscle procedures and offset of the vertical recti muscles to provide torsional effect. Slanting of the insertions of the vertical recti and/or oblique muscles has also been advocated to either increase or decrease the torsional effect of the muscles.[24] A detailed account of common techniques and instrumentation for cyclovertical extraocular muscle surgery is described elsewhere.[23]

Concurrent Strabismus

If strabismus is also present in a patient with nystagmus when surgery for the AHP is planned, the surgical dosing can be modified, with the goal to align the fixating eye for nystagmus with dosing adjustments to the non-fixating eye for the strabismus.[22]

Complications

Success rate varies from 50-100%, so recurrence is possible.[25] [26] Reoperation is considered safe and effective in these cases and can include resecting the previously resected muscles by another 5 mm and adding a posterior fixation suture to the previously recessed muscles.[9] Consecutive strabismus is possible following the Kestenbaum procedure. One study reported an incidence of 11%, with associated risk factors being severe bilateral amblyopia, a history of botulinum toxin treatment, and larger recessions of the four horizontal muscles.[27]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kumar A, Shetty S, Vijayalakshmi P, Hertle RW. Improvement in visual acuity following surgery for correction of head posture in infantile nystagmus syndrome.J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2011 Nov-Dec;48(6):341-6.
  2. Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome. In: Basic and clinical science course (BCSC) Section 5: Neuro-Ophthalmology. Academy of Ophthalmology; 2015:229.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Rosenabum AL, Santiago AP. Clinical Strabismus Management: Principles and Surgical Techniques. W.B. Saunders Company; 1999.
  4. Hertle RW, Maldanado VK, Maybodi M, Yang D. Clinical and ocular motor analysis of the infantile nystagmus syndrome in the first 6 months of life. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2002;86(6):670–675.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Abadi RV, Bjerre A. Motor and sensory characteristics of infantile nystagmus. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2002;86(10):1152–1160.
  6. Spielmann A. Clinical rationale for manifest congenital nystagmus surgery. Journal of AAPOS. 2000;4(2):67–74.
  7. Anderson JR. Causes and treatment of congenital eccentric nystagmus. Br J Ophthalmol 1953;37: 267-80
  8. 8.0 8.1 Kestenbaum A. Nouvelle opération du nystagmus. Bull Soc Ophthamol Fr 1953;2: 1071-8
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lee J. Surgical management of nystagmus. J R Soc Med. 2002 May;95(5):238-41. doi: 10.1177/014107680209500506. PMID: 11983764; PMCID: PMC1279676.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Parks MM. Congenital nystagmus surgery. Am Orthopt J 1973;23: 35-9
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Calhoun JH, Harley RD. Surgery for abnormal head position in congenital nystagmus. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 1973;71: 70-87
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Nelson LB, Ervin-Mulley LD, Calhoun JH, Harley RD, Keisler MS. Surgical management for abnormal head position in nystagmus: the augmented modified Kestenbaum procedure. Br J Ophthalmol 1984;68: 796-800
  13. 13.0 13.1 Pratt-Johnson JA. Results of surgery to modify the null-zone position in congenital nystagmus. Can J Ophthalmol 1991;26: 219-23
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Taylor JN, Jesse K. Surgical management of congenital nystagmus. Aust NZ J Ophthalmol 1987;15: 25-34
  15. 15.0 15.1 ElKamshoushy A, Shawky D, ElMassry A, ElBaha S, Abdel Wahab MM, Sprunger D. Improved visual acuity and recognition time in nystagmus patients following four-muscle recession or Kestenbaum-Anderson procedures. J AAPOS. 2012 Feb;16(1):36-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2011.10.009. PMID: 22370663.
  16. Sandall GS. Surgical treatment of congenital nystagmus in patients with singular binocular vision. Ann Ophthalmol. 1976;8:227–38.
  17. Scott WE, Kraft SP. Surgical treatment of compensatory head position in congenital nystagmus. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1984;21:85–95.
  18. Chang MY, Binenbaum G, Heidary G, Cavuoto KM, Morrison DG, Trivedi RH, Kim SJ, Pineles SL. Surgical Treatments to Improve Visual Acuity in Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2023 Mar;130(3):331-344. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2022.10.006. Epub 2022 Nov 24. PMID: 36435636; PMCID: PMC9979093.
  19. D'Esposito M, Reccia R, Roberti G, Russo P. Amount of surgery in congenital nystagmus. Ophthalmology 1989;198: 145-51
  20. Prakash P, Sihota R, Menon V. Congenital nystagmus with head posture (a modified approach in surgical management). Ind J Ophthalmol 1991;39: 65-7
  21. Robbins SL, Suh DW, Miller AM, Kumar A, Epley KD, Sahn MEL, Trumler AA, Prakalapakorn SG. Strabismus Surgery, Horizontal. Eyewiki. Accessed on July 18, 2023. https://eyewiki.org/Strabismus_Surgery,_Horizontal
  22. 22.0 22.1 E G Buckley, D A Plager, M X Repka, M E Wilson, D A Plager, ed. Contributions by M M Parks, G K von Noorden. Pp 155-167 Ophthalmology Monographs 17 . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-19-517023-7
  23. 23.0 23.1 Molina JG, Nallasamy S, Prakalapakorn SG, Deora A. Strabismus surgery, cyclovertical. Eyewiki, Accessed on July 18, 2023. https://eyewiki.org/Strabismus_Surgery,_Cyclovertical
  24. Conrad HG, de Decker W. Torsional Kestenbaum procedure: evolution of a surgical concept. In: Reinecke RD, ed. Strabismus II. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1982: 301
  25. Gräf M (2002) Kestenbaum and artificial divergence surgery for abnormal head turn secondary to nystagmus. Specific and nonspecific effects for artificial divergence. Strabismus 10:69–74
  26. Kang NY, Isenberg SJ. Kestenbaum procedure with posterior fixation suture for anomalous head posture in infantile nystagmus. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2009 Jul;247(7):981-7. doi: 10.1007/s00417-009-1037-2. Epub 2009 Feb 3. PMID: 19189117; PMCID: PMC2686801.
  27. Gómez-Mariscal M, Hernández-Martínez P, Rodríguez-Del Valle JM, Ruiz-Guerrero M, Márquez-González C, Rodríguez-Sánchez JM. Consecutive strabismus after infantile nystagmus syndrome surgery and potential risk factors. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020 Jul;258(7):1549-1554. doi: 10.1007/s00417-020-04686-9. Epub 2020 Apr 20. PMID: 32307586.
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