Frontalis Linkage Without Intraoperative Eyelid Elevation for the Management of Myopathic Ptosis

Spontaneous Blinking Kinematics After Frontalis Muscle Flap Advancement

PURPOSE

To measure the spontaneous blinking metrics after blepharoptosis correction with frontalis muscle flap advancement.

METHODS

A video system was employed to measure the amplitude and velocity of spontaneous blinking of 24 eyelids after the frontalis muscle flap surgery for blepharoptosis correction. A control group with no eyelid disorders was also measured. The data of 13 eyelids who had frontalis slings with autogenous fascia, which were previously collected with the same method in another study, were used for comparison. Digital images were used to measure the superior margin reflex distance and the presence of lagophthalmos during a gentle closure of the palpebral fissure. Superficial keratitis was assessed by corneal biomicroscopy.

RESULTS

The mean amplitude of spontaneous blinking was 6.3 mm in controls, 2.6 mm in the frontalis flap patients, and 2.1 mm in the fascia sling group. The mean blink velocity was 133.8 mm/second in controls, 39.0 mm/second (3.7 standard error) after the frontalis flap, and 36.3 mm/second in patients with frontalis sling with fascia. For these 2 parameters, there was no statistical difference between the surgical groups, but a significant reduction when compared with the control group. No significant association was found between lagophthalmos and keratitis and the surgical procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no difference between the blinking metrics of eyelids operated using the frontalis muscle flap advancement technique or frontalis sling with autogenous fascia. The presence of lagophthalmos and keratitis also does not differ between the 2 procedures.

Factors Influencing the Lagophthalmos and Lid Lag After Simple Congenital Blepharoptosis Correction

BACKGROUND

Lagophthalmos and lid lag is the most common complication after ptosis correction. Great efforts had been made to control it, but little was known about the factors influencing it. So we ran this research to explore the possible mechanisms underlying it. This would be beneficial to solving this problem.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cohort study, patients treated with the forked frontalis muscle aponeurosis suspension and levator aponeurosis-Muller's muscle complex resection were identified. Lagophthalmos height and lid lag was measured at the postoperative week 1 visits. The Spearman correlation test was run to test whether lagophthalmos was related to patients' age, levator function, and severity of ptosis. Then we measured the contents of collagen and elastin fibers of frontalis muscle fascia and levator aponeurosis from the patients and levator aponeurosis from cadaver heads histologically and compared the contents in these 3 groups.

RESULTS

No correlation was found between patients' age, levator function, the severity of ptosis, and with lagophthalmos height. However, the contents of collagen and elastic fibers were both higher in the frontalis fascia than in the normal aponeurosis tissues. The difference in collagen fibers content between frontalis muscle fascia and patients' aponeurosis was statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

The severe lagophthalmos and lid lag may be caused by the poor mechanical features of the frontalis muscle. A better source of motive force to elevate the eyelids and a novel sling material with proper elasticity and stiffness would be the solution to improve the lagophthalmos and lid lag after ptosis correction.

A review of surgical management of progressive myogenic ptosis

PURPOSE

Surgical correction of myogenic ptosis is a sophisticated endeavor, as the disease is progressive and the post-operative course is prone to significant complications. We sought to review the literature for repair techniques in different types of myogenic ptosis.

METHODS

A PubMed/MEDLINE literature search of publications pertaining to surgical outcomes of progressive myogenic ptosis repair was performed. Studies included were original retrospective studies with a minimum of four patients.

RESULTS

A total of 27 articles were identified and divided by etiology of myogenic ptosis; either chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), myasthenia gravis (MG), or mixed. Surgical techniques predominantly involved levator advancement, levator resection, frontalis sling, blepharoplasty, and Fasanella-Servat. Success rates ranged from 60.5% to 100%. Significant postoperative complications included ptosis recurrence, under-correction, over-correction, keratopathy, lagophthalmos, sling exposure, and sling infection.

CONCLUSION

Like surgical repair for other forms of ptosis, correction of progressive myogenic ptosis is guided by levator excursion. However, myogenic ptosis is especially challenging as it is characterized by worsening ptosis and the loss of protective corneal mechanisms. The goals of care with myogenic ptosis involves repairing ptosis just sufficiently to alleviate visual obstruction while avoiding adverse post-operative complications. This intentional under-correction subsequently increases susceptibility for ptosis recurrence. Myogenic ptosis repair therefore requires delicate balancing between function, sustained repair, and corneal protection.