Canaliculoplasty Using Mini-Monoka or Bicanalicular Stent for Repair of Canalicular Laceration

ABSTRACT

A retrospective study was designed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of canalicular injury including causes and associated ocular traumas, time of operation, and appropriate operating methods and materials. The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 60 patients who underwent repair of lacerated canaliculi from June 1992 to September 1997 at Chonnam University Hospital. Most injuries occurred at second and third decades(30, 50%). The most common cause was fist blow(19, 31.7%). Among a total of 44 patients who could be followed for more than 6 months, 30 of 32 eyes(93.8%) who were repaired with Mini-Monoka and 11 of 12 eyes(91.7%) with bicanalicular stent met with successful results. There were 8 prolapses of tube, 2 granuloma formations, 2 wound infections, one punctal slit, and one canalicular stenosis as the postoperative complication. All of them ware treated successfully. Canaliculoplasty was not successful in cases that operation was performed 48 hours after trauma and the tube was prolapsed within 3 months. No significant associations were found between presence of postoperative epiphora and sex, causes of injury, location of injury and type of canalicular stent. Canaliculoplasty with either Mini-Monoka or bicanalicular stent had successful postoperative outcomes without any significant complications.