The effectiveness of simultaneous medial spindle and/or lateral tarsal strip procedure in East Asian patients who need endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy

BACKGROUNDS

To evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous medial spindle procedure (MS) and/or lateral tarsal strip procedure (TS) with an endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) for treatment of involutional medial punctal ectropion, horizontal eyelid laxity, and nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, interventional study of DCR performed from March 2009 to July 2011 by a single surgeon (Baek SH). Patient age, sex, results of medial and lateral distraction test, surgical procedure, time of tube removal, duration of follow-up, functional and anatomical success rate, and causes of failed surgeries were recorded. Lateral lower eyelid laxity was evaluated by a medial distraction test, and medial lid laxity was evaluated by a lateral distraction test.

RESULTS

A total of 241 eyes in 175 patients were included in this study. The proportion of combined surgeries to total DCR was 24.5% (59 of 241 eyes). DCR and MS (D + M) were performed on 23 eyes in 17 patients (9.5%) and DCR and TS (D + T) on 29 eyes in 17 patients (12.0%). Concurrent DCR, MS and TS (D + M + T) were performed on seven eyes in four patients (2.9%). Mean age was significantly higher in the combined surgery groups (63.8 ± 10.0 years) than in the DCR group (56.2 ± 10.6 years; p = 0.01, by Mann-Whitney U test). The anatomical success rates were 84.2% in D, 86.9% in D + M, 89.5% in D + T, and 85.7% in D + M + T (p = 0.61 by Kruskal-Wallis test). Functional success rates were 82.4% in D, 86.9% in D + M, 86.2% in D + T, and 85.7% in D + M + T (p = 0.91 by Kruskal-Wallis test).

CONCLUSIONS

MS and TS performed concurrently with a DCR may be an effective tool to deal with epiphora due to complex clinical situations such as nasolacrimal duct obstruction, lid laxity, and involutional medial ectropion. It is recommended to examine punctum and lid laxity carefully using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and lid distraction test in patients with epiphora, especially in elderly patients.

The effectiveness of simultaneous lateral tarsal strip with endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and lower lid laxity

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of simultaneous lateral tarsal strip procedure (LTS) and endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and lower lid laxity.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, interventional study of concurrent DCR with LTS for patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction and lower lid laxity performed between March 2009 and July 2011 by a single surgeon (S.H.B.). Patient age, sex, the results of dacryoscintigraphy, time of tube removal, follow-up duration, and cause of failed surgery were recorded. Lower eyelid laxity was evaluated by a medial distraction test.

RESULTS

A total of 29 eyes in 17 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 61.1 ± 11.8 years (range 41 to 81 years). The mean degree of lower lid laxity was 2.4 ± 0.5. Dacryoscintigraphy showed presac delay in 22 eyes (75.9%). The tube was removed after 11.3 ± 1.9 weeks. The primary anatomical success rate was 89.5% (27 eyes) and the functional success rate was 86.2% (25 eyes). Membranous obstructions were the cause of failed surgery in 2 patients, but both patients remained symptom free after revision surgery with a diode laser.

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrently performed DCR with LTS can be an effective tool for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and lower lid laxity. It is recommended for examining lid laxity carefully using lid distraction test in patients with epiphora.