Traumatic Ptosis: Evaluation of Etiology, Management and Prognosis

Clinical characteristics and associated features of pure orbital roof fractures: A ten-year retrospective review

PURPOSE

To present the demographics and clinical characteristics of pure (rim-sparing) orbital roof fractures.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study used 10 years of data from a single institution. Patient age, sex, laterality, field of binocular single vision, associated injuries, and radiologic features were analyzed. Orbital roof fractures were categorized into four groups: comminuted/open, hinged, trapdoor, and linear. These were further subdivided into blow-in (-down) and blow-out (-up) fractures. Injury etiology was classified into fall, traffic accidents, sports injuries, assault, work-related, and others.

RESULTS

Data documented a low incidence rate of 2.5% (27 patients) in 1074 patients. Most patients were male (81%). The most common cause of injury was fall (48%), followed by traffic accidents (22%). Comminuted/open fractures constituted the bulk of fracture types (54%), followed by hinged, and linear fractures. Blow-in and blow-out fractures had an incidence rate of 50% each. Concomitant fractures of the medial and inferior orbital walls were predominant. Low surgical intervention was noted owing to acceptable field of binocular single vision outcomes, and the field of binocular single vision included the primary position of gaze in 88% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Pure orbital roof fractures occurred in 2.5% of patients with pure orbital fractures. Patients were predominantly male with trauma caused by high energy forces, which regularly caused comminution of the roof and fractures of the medial and inferior orbital walls. Most patients were managed conservatively.

Surgical approach to repair of traumatic avulsion and external herniation of the levator palpebrae superioris aponeurosis

This report describes the unusual case and surgical repair of avulsion and external herniation of the levator palpebrae superioris (LPS) aponeurosis and attached muscle fibres associated with superior tarsal plate fracture in an 8-year-old Indigenous girl. To the authors' knowledge, isolated and complete levator palpebrae superioris avulsion with external herniation in trauma is previously unreported. Open injury to LPS requires swift surgical repair, and an anterior ptosis repair approach may facilitate identification of anatomical structures to prevent upper eyelid ptosis. Ultimately, the surgical repair in this case prevented further ptosis surgery and complications in a paediatric patient.

Treatment of Severe Ptosis by Conjoint Fascial Sheath Suspension

Objective

To explore the role of conjoint fascial sheath (CFS) suspension in the treatment of severe ptosis.

Methods

A total of 110 patients with severe ptosis who were admitted to our hospital from May 2018 to December 2020 were included. Fifty-seven patients treated with frontalis suspension were assigned into group A, and the remaining 53 patients treated with CFS suspension were assigned into group B. The curative effect, ocular surface alterations, complications, and satisfaction in the two groups were compared.

Results

Patients in group B suffered from severe upper eyelid retraction and lid lag than those in group A, as well as more limited range of motion (ROM) (P < 0.05). The curative effect and patient satisfaction in group B were higher than those in group A (P < 0.05). Postsurgical complications in group B were fewer than those in group A (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

CFS suspension is effective in the treatment of severe ptosis.

A case of surgically treated traumatic ptosis caused by scratching by human hand

The patient was a 49-year-old woman. She had worked at a child welfare facility where she sustained a wound to the left side of her upper eyelid after it was scratched by a child facility resident's finger. One month had passed since the injury when she visited our hospital. The initial treatment was not appropriate, and her left eyelid could not be lifted at all. A secondary surgery was performed 2 months after the injury when the scar contracture was most strong. Such corrective surgery for posttraumatic eyelid is typically scheduled after at least 6 months when the scar tissue softens from the viewpoint of wound healing. However, this case indicated the importance of determining the appropriate timing of surgery in consideration of the patient's background and the scientific basis. Reports of sharp traumatic ptosis are rare, and this is the first reported case of traumatic ptosis resulting from a scratch caused by human hand.

Mitigation of traumatic blepharoptosis with "central levator tuck": A novel approach in upper eyelid repair

PURPOSE

Complex upper eyelid lacerations can present to the emergency department after a myriad of trauma. The goal of the surgical repair is anatomical and functional recovery along with symmetrical cosmesis. Despite meticulous surgery, post traumatic blepharoptosis may develop. We describe an additional step during upper eyelid laceration repair to help mitigate the development of traumatic blepharoptosis.

METHODS

Patients with traumatic eyelid laceration without head injury, globe injury or associated orbital fractures, who were planned for a primary upper eyelid repair were included. Intraoperatively, wound margins and tissues were identified to establish anatomical continuity. After the LPS muscle was reinserted onto the tarsus, a single, central suture LPS plication - the "central levator tuck" was performed. This helped in improving the muscle action as well as strengthening its reattachment onto tarsus.

RESULTS

Four cases underwent laceration repair with this modified technique. The nature of eyelid injury, surgical technique, and the outcome at 6 months is described. Three patients had a successful outcome, whereas one patient developed early scarring which reduced with scar therapy over time.

CONCLUSION

We describe a simple and effective "central levator tuck" technique for traumatic eyelid laceration repair with optimal functional and cosmetic outcome while reducing the development of blepharoptosis in four patients.