Clinical Features Associated With Outcomes of Canalicular Laceration Repair

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcome of repair of canalicular laceration with Crawford stent. METHODS: All 40 patients who underwent canalicular laceration repair from 2004 to 2007 in the hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, cause of canalicular injury, surgical management with Crawford stent, and its outcome were analyzed RESULTS: Most cases were male with step wound (34 cases 85%). Average age of fourty patients was 41.7 years old. Outcome had varied depending on the time of surgery, the location of laceration, the suture method, the wound condition, and the duration for stent. Maintaining silicone tube more than three months, and surgical approach within forty-eight hours resulted in statistically significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of canalicular laceration was better when surgical approach was done within forty-eight hours and silicone tube was maintained more than three months.