Steam roller maneuver in pneumatic retinopexy. Does it work?

Objective: To identify the efficacy and safety of the steam-roller maneuver, in patients treated with pneumatic retinopexy.

Method: Experimental, prospective, comparative, longitudinal study in patients with retinal detachment, treated with pneumatic retinopexy. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: without steam roller maneuver (group 1) or with it (group 2). The proportions of single-intervention anatomical success, visual improvement, anatomical success with reintervention, and adverse events were compared between groups (chi squared); preoperative and postoperative visual acuity in logMAR was compared within groups (Wilcoxon's t).

Results: 40 eyes were evaluated (mean age 55.9 ± 13.3 years); 15 were assigned to group 1, 25 to group 2. The proportions of single-intervention anatomical success, visual improvement, anatomical success with reintervention, and adverse events did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). At the end of follow up, visual acuity improved in both groups; however, it only improved in group 2, in eyes with single intervention anatomical success (mean log MAR before surgery 1.72 ± 1.64; after surgery 0.61 ± 0.61; p = 0.008).

Conclusions: The steam roller maneuver is efficient for improving visual acuity in patients with pneumatic retinopexy, who achieve single intervention anatomical success; furthermore, the maneuver does not impair prognosis in eyes that require reintervention.