Modified Hotz's Operation to Reduce the Dog-ear Formation after Epiblepharon Repairing Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To discover an the operative technique to reduce the dog-ear formation which develops after epiblepharon and entropion repairing surgery. METHODS: This study reviewed the records of 38 consecutive patients who had undergone epiblepharon surgery. The results of the surgical correction, dog-ear formation and the complications were reviewed retrospectively. The new operative procedure adopted the sine curve-shaped skin incision instead of the conventional crescent-shaped skin incision. After resection of redundant skin and pretarsal orbicularis muscle, tarsal fixation of subcutaneous tissue and skin was performed. After the epiblepharon repair, we observed the formation of dog-ear by the modified Hotz procedure. RESULTS: There were 22 males and 16 females. The average age at surgery was 4.8 years and the average follow-up period was 22.4 weeks. There were no cases of cilia touch recurrence and dog-ear formation using the new operative procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This operative technique produced improved cosmetic result by preventing the formation of dog-ear which can develop after repair surgery for epiblepharon and entropion.