Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the clinical efficacy of surgical correction of congenital ptosis through the use of silicone rod frontalis suspension slings Methods: Retrospective case review of 9 eyelids in 6 pediatric patients diagnosed with visually significant congenital ptosis and treated with surgical ptosis repair utilizing silicone rod frontalis suspension slings. All surgeries were performed at a major academic medical center by an experienced oculoplastic surgeon with sedation achieved through general anesthesia. Patients were followed at regular intervals post–operatively to assess eyelid position and function. Detailed measurements of vertical palpebral fissure height, margin reflex distance, head tilt, and brow position were recorded and compared with pre–operative values. Patients were carefully monitored for the presence of any post–operative lagophthalmos, foreign body reaction, or silicon rod extrusion. Results:Surgical correction of congential ptosis using silicone rod frontalis suspension slings provided improved lid height and clearance of the visual axis in all patients. Head tilt, present in 3 patients pre–operatively was greatly reduced or eliminated after surgery in all cases. The most common complication was lagophthalmos which decreased over time in all involved eyes. No cases of exposure keratopathy, corneal abrasion, or corneal ulceration were observed. A localized post–operative wound infection occured in one patient which resolved with topical and oral antibiotic therapy. Silcone rod extrusion and foreign body reaction were not seen in any of the post–operative eyelids. Conclusions: Surgical repair of congenital ptosis by creation of frontalis suspension slings using silicone rods appears to be an safe and effective method to restore voluntary pediatric eyelid elevation while preserving critical protective eyelid closure function.
Keywords: anatomy • eyelid • orbit