THE SELECTIVE USING OF MUSCLE FLAPS AROUND EYE FOR THE CORRECTION OF BLEPHAROPTOSIS AND ITS COMPLICATIONS

ABSTRACT

Eighty-three cases with severe blepharoptosis were treated by the superiorly based muscle flaps around eye including orbicularis oculi muscle, frontalis muscle, levator muscle. The selection of the muscle flaps were done in accordance with the levator function of patients. The orbicularis oculi muscle flap technique in 32 patients who have 2-5 mm levator function, 21 cases of the interdigitated orbicularis oculi-frontalis muscle flap for 1-3 mm levator function, frontalis muscle flap technique for less than 2 mm levator function, 22 cases of levator muscle resection for 2-8 mm levator function, 7 cases of levator plication for 5-9 mm levator function. The majority of patients recorded as satisfactory results. There has been no complete failure but there were 14 cases of undercorrection, 4 cases of overcorrection, 2 cases of exposure keratitis, 3 cases of corneal erosion, 2 cases of sensory loss, hematoma loss of wrinkle and a few cases of eyelid deformity such as notching, entropion, fading or unnatural fold. The orbicularis oculi muscle technique or the interdigitated orbicularis oculi-frontalis muscle flap technique offers several advantages over conventional frontalis muscle flap technique such as being a simple with a good operative field, single incision or supratarsal fold, no depression on the forehead, no risk of neurovascular injury and relatively easy technique with less complication. The levator resection or levator plication could offer good results by careful selection of patients. In conclusion, we would like to say that the interdigitated frontalis orbicularis oculi muscle flap technique is best in cases with less than 2 mm levator function, orbicularis oculi muscle flap technique in 2-4 mm levator function, levator resection in 4-8 mm levator function, levator plication in more that 8 mm levator function.