Acellular Porcine Dermis: Results From Surgical Repair of Clinically Significant Lower Lid Retraction

Abstract

Purpose:: To evaluate the clinical outcome of lower lid recession repair using acellular porcine dermal tissue.

Methods:: Eight patients with clinically significant lower lid recession causing visually significant lower lid retraction and keratopathy were included in this review. All patients demonstrated inferior scleral show and keratopathy pre-operatively. Lids were recessed using a transconjunctival approach and underwent surgical correction with acellular porcine dermal graft tissue. Each graft measured 10 mm in height, 25-28 mm in width and 1 mm in thickness. Patients were evaluated at 3 and 6 month pos-operative intervals.

Results:: No patients suffered post-operative complications and none required re-operation. At 6-month post-operative follow-up, slight graft retraction was noted but there was no inferior scleral show and all patients retained the ability for complete lid closure. Improvements in lower lid retraction ranged from 2 to 6 mm with an average of 3.8 mm.

Conclusions:: Acellular porcine dermis appears to be successful when used as a spacer graft for the surgical correction of lower lid recession and may represent an improvement over other graft materials with greater resorption currently in use.

Keywords: anatomy • wound healing • eyelid