Effect of Eyelid Involvement in the Reconstruction of Medial Canthal Defects Following Tumor Excision

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present surgical techniques for medial canthal defects with and without involvement of eyelid. This study included 31 patients who had undergone medial canthal reconstruction after tumor excision during a 6-year interval. Data about patient demographics, defect size, tumor pathology, surgery techniques, functional and cosmetic outcomes, and complications were recorded. The reconstructive methods used in the study were divided into groups according to the site of the defect (medial canthal, medial canthal with upper eyelid, medial canthal with lower eyelid, and medial canthal with both eyelids). Most common histopathologic diagnosis of the lesions was basal cell carcinoma (74.2%). Postoperative complications (6.4%) included flap necrosis in 1 patient and lid margin notching in 1 patient. Among patients who underwent reconstruction, 8 (25.8%) had only medial canthal defect, 6 (19.3%) had medial canthal defect extending to upper eyelid, 7 (22.6%) had medial canthal defect extending to lower eyelid, and 10 (32.3%) had medial canthal defect extending to both eyelids. The functional outcome was regarded as normal in 30 (96.8%) patients and limited in 1 (3.2%) patient. All of the patients considered cosmetic result as satisfactory. Alternative reconstructive approaches for different subunits of the medial canthus are an efficient way to provide superior functional and cosmetic outcomes.