Surgical outcomes with 360-degree suture trabeculotomy in poor-prognosis primary congenital glaucoma and glaucoma associated with congenital anomalies or cataract surgery

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of 360-degree suture trabeculotomy in childhood glaucoma with poor prognosis.

Methods: A nonrandomized, retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric patients (younger than 18 years of age) treated with a 360-degree suture trabeculotomy for glaucoma. The cases were categorized into the following groups: (1) primary congenital glaucoma with birth-onset presentation accompanied by corneal clouding noted at birth, (2) primary congenital glaucoma with onset or presentation after 1 year of age, (3) primary congenital glaucoma with previous failed goniotomy surgery, (4) infantile-onset glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery, and (5) infantile-onset glaucoma with associated ocular/systemic anomalies.

Results: A total of 45 eyes of 33 patients were analyzed. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 34.3±6.7 mm Hg on an average of 1.5 medications. Median age at time of surgery was 7 months. Mean final IOP (median last follow-up or failure, 12 months) was 22.2±7.1 mm Hg on an average of 1.5 medications. The probability of success according to time after surgery was 87% at 6 months, 63% at 1 year, and 58% at 2 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis of Groups 1-4 versus Group 5 failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference (p=0.13). Of 5 eyes with port wine mark-related glaucoma, 2 had a large (>50%), persistent postoperative hyphema, and concurrent vitreous hemorrhage.

Conclusions: Children with a range of ocular pathologies can be successfully treated with 360-degree suture trabeculotomy. Further evaluation of this surgical technique in primary congenital glaucoma and open-angle glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery is warranted.