Efficacy of lamellar division for correcting cicatricial lid entropion and its associated features unrectified by the tarsal fracture technique

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : To determine the efficacy of lamellar division for correcting cicatricial lid entropion and its associated features unrectified by the tarsal fracture technique. METHODS : Fifty patients (92 lids) diagnosed as having cicatricial lid entropion were operated by the tarsal fracture technique. There was defective lid closure in 34/92 lids, irregular lid margin in 48/92 lids, distichiatic or metaplastic cilia in 28/92 lids and a history of previous entropion surgery in 34/92 lids. All patients were followed up for one year and the surgical failures at the end of this period were subjected to lamellar division. These subjects were further followed up for one more year./ RESULTS : An overall success rate of 28.26% (26/92 lids) was obtained with the tarsal fracture technique. A correction was achieved in all the 20 lids having cicatricial entropion without any associated features. However, this technique succeeded in only six of the remaining 72 lids (8.33%) with a history of previous surgery or the associated features stated above. Furthermore, it was not effective in correcting associated anomalies such as defective lid closure, irregular lid margin and distichiatic or metaplastic cilia. Reoperation using lamellar division gave good correction in 97% of the lids (64/66). CONCLUSIONS : Lamellar division is a better procedure for treating cicatricial lid entropion, especially in patients with associated complications or with a previous history of entropion surgery.