The "Clothesline Phenomenon" after Cerclage with Arruga's Suture - Is Cutting of the Suture Necessary?

Background: Several early and late complications have been described since the introduction of cerclage surgery using a supramid suture. Due to cutting of the supramid suture through scleral tissue the supramid suture may appear at the fundus. Long-term results of scleral penetration and crossing the bulbus by the supramid suture, which is then only covered by the retina ("clothesline phenomenon"), could not be described so far. We report on a patient 20 years after cerclage surgery with Arruga's suture.

Methods: A now 63-year old female patient with high myopia (D - 14.0 OU) suffering from complete retinal detachment had had ophthalmic surgery using Arruga's encircling suture with additional horizontal buckling at her left eye in 1983. Postoperative visual acuity was 10/20. The retina was attached. In 2002 phakoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation due to cataracta corticalis was done externally. In 2003 a complete scleral and chorioidal penetration and appearance of the Arruga's suture behind the retina occurred extending from 4 over 6 to 8 o'clock position with a visual acuity of 20/25. The patient did not agree with the cutting of the suture at any time.

Conclusions: The "clothesline phenomenon" is a very rare late complication after encircling surgery using an Arruga suture by retinal detachment. Suture cutting is suggested because of a possible risk of retinal detachment. As shown in our case report, stable retinal attachment after Arruga's suturing is possible.