PURPOSE
To assess motor and mental development before and after strabismus surgery in children with infantile esotropia.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Mental and motor development indexes of 20 children with infantile esotropia without neurologic abnormalities and 17 age-matched healthy control subjects were prospectively tested at regular intervals before and after strabismus surgery with the Dutch version of the Bayley and ordinal scales of infant development.
RESULTS
The mean age for surgery in the study group was 13.5 months. Before strabismus surgery, the Bayley scales of infant development showed a significant delay in both mental (P < .045) and motor (P < .008) development for children with infantile esotropia compared with the control group. Three weeks after surgery, the delay in mental development had disappeared. The delay in motor development persisted for months.
Two of the 7 ordinal scales—object permanence (P < .01) and means–end (P < .036)—showed a statistically significant delay for children with infantile esotropia. Three weeks after strabismus surgery, there was no difference between the study group and the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Children with infantile esotropia had delayed motor and mental development compared with healthy children. After strabismus surgery, patients recovered mentally, but their motor delays persisted for months when tested with the Bayley scales of infant development.
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2007;44:350-355.
AUTHORS
Drs. Tukkers-van Aalst, Rensen, de Graaf, and Wittebol-Post are from the Department of Ophthalmology, and Dr. van Nieuwenhuizen is from the Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of Utrecht, The Netherlands. Dr. Tukkers-van Aalst is also from the Department of Ophthalmology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Originally submitted December 21, 2005.
Accepted for publication March 22, 2006.
Address correspondence to Floor S. Tukkers-van Aalst, MD, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Hilvarenbeekseweg 60, 5000 LC Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Supported by Dr. F. P. Fischer Stichting.
Drs. Tukkers-van Aalst, Rensen, de Graaf, van Nieuwenhuizen, and Wittebol-Post have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage.
The material presented at or in any Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activity does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education or SLACK Incorporated. Neither Vindico Medical Education or SLACK Incorporated, nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/author may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.
