Blepharoptosis Reoperation With Combining Excision of Tarsus and Levator Muscle

Comparison of Stab Incision and Eyelid Crease Incision Techniques in Children with Revision Frontalis Sling Surgeries Using Silicone Rods

PURPOSE

To compare stab and eyelid crease incision techniques in revision frontalis sling surgeries using silicone rods.

METHODS

This retrospective study involved 52 eyes in 48 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent revision frontalis sling surgery between 2008 and 2019. All primary surgeries were performed by making eyelid crease incisions and suturing of silicone rods onto the tarsal plates. The revision surgeries were performed by either making stab incisions over the eyelid through which to pass the silicone rods (group A), or by refixing the same or a new silicone rod to the tarsal plate (group B). The surgical results were compared.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 22.4 months (range, 6-62 months) and the mean age of the patients was 6.1 years (range, 1-16 years). There were 28 female and 20 male patients. Surgical success was achieved in 23 of 28 patients (82.1%) in group A, and 12 of 24 patients (50.0%) in group B. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.012). Superficial punctate epithelial defects were detected in six group A patients (21.4%) and seven group B patients (29.1%). In group B, lid hematoma occurred in three patients (12.5%) and entropion occurred in three patients (12.5%). The silicone rods were removed from two eyes, and entropion spontaneously resolved in one eye with close follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the stab incision technique increases revision frontalis sling surgery success rates when primary surgeries are performed using eyelid crease incisions and suturing silicone rods to the tarsal plates in children.

Müller Muscle-Conjunctival Resection for Treatment of Contralateral Ptosis following Unilateral External Levator Advancement

BACKGROUND

One of the main causes of unsatisfactory outcomes after unilateral blepharoptosis surgery is asymmetry of the upper eyelid height, which occurs as a result of a contralateral eyelid droop. Therefore, the authors evaluated the efficacy of Müller muscle-conjunctival resection (MMCR) for the treatment of contralateral ptosis following unilateral external levator advancement (ELA).

METHODS

This study analyzed 26 eyelids of 26 patients with upper eyelid height asymmetry following unilateral ELA who underwent contralateral MMCR retrospectively. The phenylephrine test was performed before ELA and before MMCR. The main outcome measures were symmetry outcomes and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 55.81 ± 7.98 years (range, 44 to 70 years); 15 were female (57.7%). The Hering dependency was observed in 13 of the patients (50%) before ELA. An adequate response to phenylephrine was observed before MMCR but not before ELA. Symmetry outcomes after MMCR were perfect (<0.5 mm), good (≥0.5 mm and <1 mm), and fair (≥1 mm) in seven, 17, and two patients, respectively. An optimal upper eyelid height was noted in 47 of the 52 eyelids after the MMCR, whereas three of the 52 eyelids had minimal overcorrection, and two eyelids had undercorrection. The mean change in marginal reflex distance 1 of the contralateral eyelid droop was greater for patients with than without the Hering dependency ( P < 0.0001) after ELA but not after MMCR. Two patients (7.6%) underwent revision ELA surgery.

CONCLUSION

MMCR and use of the phenylephrine test to predict the eyelid position may represent an alternative approach in patients who require management of contralateral ptosis following unilateral ELA.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, IV.

Conjoint Fascial Sheath Suspension for Correction of Recurrent Blepharoptosis

BACKGROUND

Blepharoptosis is defined as an abnormally low-positioned upper eyelid margin in the primary gaze position, which results in cosmetic discomfort and functional visual dysfunction. Recurrence is one of the common complications after ptosis correction and requires further revision. Conjoint fascial sheath (CFS) suspension has become increasingly popular for ptosis. In this article, we described our experience of CFS suspension in the treatment of recurrent blepharoptosis and evaluated the postoperative outcomes so as to guide the clinical application of CFS suspension.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients (48 eyelids) who had recurrent blepharoptosis and received CFS suspension were included in this study. Before the surgery, the degree of ptosis and levator function were assessed. The postoperative evaluation consisted of the correction effect, eyelid symmetry, protective closure function of eyelid, and surgical complications.

RESULTS

At the final follow-up, 46 eyelids (95.8%) showed an ideal correction, of which 24 eyelids (50%) showed sufficient correction and 22 eyelids (45.8%) showed normal correction. The remaining 2 eyelids (4.2%) showed under-correction. Among all 38 patients, 26 patients (68.4%) achieved good symmetry, and 10 patients (26.3%) achieved fair symmetry, while only 2 patients (5.3%) showed poor symmetry. Recovery time of eyelid protective closure function was 3.9 ± 1.04 months (range, 2.5-6 months). There were no complications except residual lagophthalmos (9 eyelids) residual conjunctival prolapse (10 eyelids).

CONCLUSION

CFS suspension is an effective method for the correction of recurrent blepharoptosis due to its sufficient correction effect, recovery of eyelid protective closure function, and less complication rate.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

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Modified Maximal Levator Palpebrae Superioris Shortening in Correcting Congenital Severe Ptosis in Children

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of modified maximal levator palpebrae superioris shortening method for severe congenital ptosis.

METHODS

A retrospective case series was performed including 66 eyes from 62 patients who underwent modified maximal levator palpebrae superioris shortening surgery to treat severe congenital ptosis between February 2015 and November 2018. Preoperative and postoperative margin reflex distance 1 and levator muscle function were recorded. The surgical results were graded as good, satisfied, and poor for functional and cosmetic improvement of the eyelids, and the incidence of complications was also documented.

RESULTS

The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 4.6 ± 1.8 years (2-9 years), and the mean follow-up time was 36.3 ± 14.1 (12-55 months). A mean significant improvement in margin reflex distance 1 and levator function after operation was noted (P < 0.01). The eyelid height and symmetry were satisfied in 59 patients, with success rate of 95.2%. For the patients in the levator function (≤2 mm) group, the success rate was 87.5%. Moreover, the levator function (≤2 mm) group had a higher rate of poor results than levator function (2-4 mm) group (12.5% vs 2.2%). Overcorrection (6.5%) and eyelid fold deformity (11.3%) were the most frequent postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Modified maximal levator palpebrae superioris shortening was effective and endurable in the treatment of severe congenital ptosis with poor levator function, including in patients whose levator function was less than 2 mm.

A Modified Approach to Transconjunctival Levator Advancement Offering Intraoperative Options

BACKGROUND

The transconjunctival technique is an effective approach to mild to moderate blepharoptosis repair that does not involve skin incision. However, accurate surgical manipulation of this method is greatly restricted by poor intraoperative evaluation.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to introduce a modified transconjunctival approach with flexible intraoperative adjustments in order to achieve more accurate ptosis correction.

METHODS

Taking a transconjunctival approach, the levator aponeurosis and Müller's muscle were folded with a square-like mattress suture for flexible adjustment and accurate correction.

RESULTS

In 18 mild ptosis eyelids, 94.5% (17 eyelids) achieved adequate or normal correction. In 9 eyelids with moderate ptosis, 88.9% (8 eyelids) achieved adequate or normal correction. Of 24 ptosis patients, 23 (95.8%) achieved a good or fair symmetry result.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents a modified transconjunctival technique for repair of mild to moderate ptosis, which is characterized by flexible intraoperative adjustments that produce satisfying functional and aesthetic outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Efficacy of the Müller Muscle-Conjunctival Resection for the Correction of Unilateral Ptosis following External Levator Operations in Patients with Bilateral Involutional Ptosis

SUMMARY

Patients with aponeurotic blepharoptosis who are treated with external levator advancement may experience complications such as upper eyelid height asymmetry and often require revision surgery. The authors assessed the efficacy of Müller muscle-conjunctival resection in cases with upper eyelid height asymmetry following bilateral external levator advancement. The authors used retrospective analysis of 11 cases between September of 2016 and October of 2018 with eyelid asymmetry following bilateral external levator advancement. Following a positive phenylephrine test, these patients underwent unilateral Müller muscle-conjunctival resection revision surgery to treat the undercorrected eyelid. Preoperative and postoperative marginal reflex distance 1, symmetry outcomes, and clinical outcomes of patients were evaluated after the Müller muscle-conjunctival resection. The average patient age was 54.81 ± 3.95 years (range, 37 to 69 years; median, 56 years); seven patients (63.6 percent) were women. Hering dependency was seen in all patients before the external levator advancement. A total of three patients underwent bilateral external levator advancement simultaneously, and eight patients underwent bilateral external levator advancement sequentially. The phenylephrine test was positive in all patients before the Müller muscle-conjunctival resection. Symmetry outcomes were assessed after the revision surgery as perfect (<0.5 mm), good (≥0.5 to <1 mm), or fair (≥1 mm) in four patients, six patients, and one patient, respectively. An optimal correction was noted in 13 of the 22 eyelids after the revision surgery, whereas eight of the 22 eyelids had minimal undercorrection, and one eyelid had minimal overcorrection. Müller muscle-conjunctival resection revision surgery for treatment of the ptotic eyelid following bilateral external levator advancement is viable and may represent a new alternative among the limited revision techniques.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, IV.