Lacrimal duct injuries revisited: a retrospective review of six patients.

Abstract

This is a retrospective review of 6 patients treated for lacrimal duct injuries between December 1994 and October 1997. Four patients had inferior canalicular lacerations, one had a superior laceration, and one had a combined inferior and superior laceration. Associated injuries included facial fractures (1 patient), multiple facial lacerations (2 patients), and avulsion of the medial canthus (1 patient). All patients were repaired with Crawford tubes using a semicircular technique. The mean time of lacrimal intubation was 4.2 months (range, 3.6-4.5 months). One tube fell out at an undetermined time during the follow-up period. Visible anatomic restoration was considered excellent in all patients. There were no instances of persistent epiphora or other complications. Although there are several techniques available for treating lacrimal duct injuries in the course of dealing with general facial trauma, the semicircular technique using a Crawford intubation system yielded consistently reliable results with minimal or no complications.