Monocanalicular lesions: to reconstruct or not.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the success rate of a simple surgical method for the treatment of a monocanalicular lacrimal lesion.

DESIGN

Retrospective noncomparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirteen consecutive patients with monocanalicular trauma who were seen from August 1995 to March 1998. In six patients, the canaliculus was lacerated as a result of an external injury and in seven patients as a result of tumor removal (iatrogenic injury).

INTERVENTION: Reapproximation of the orbicularis muscle and skin overlying the torn canaliculus without reanastomosis of the lacerated canaliculus. In those patients in whom the canaliculus was sacrificed as part of the removal of an eyelid tumor, no attempt was made to reconstruct the canaliculus.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptomatology, patency of the lacrimal passage, fluorescein dye disappearance test, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

In all patients the injured canaliculus was totally blocked, but despite this none of the patients complained of inconvenient tearing either indoors or outdoors. The ipsilateral unharmed canaliculus was functioning normally in such a way that the fluorescein dye instillation test showed residual dye in six patients after 2 minutes and in none of the patients after 5 minutes. All patients were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic result.

CONCLUSION

Nonrepair of a monocanalicular lesion is a valid approach that results in little or no morbidity.