Surgical Results of Lacrimal Surgery with or without Canalicular Stenosis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical results of lacrimal surgery for nasolacrimal duct obstruction with and without canalicular stenosis. METHODS: We surveyed 175 eyes which underwent external dacryocystorhinostomy with silicone tube intubation from January 1996 through December 2000 retrospectively. Group 1 included 126 eyes in nasolacrimal duct obstruction without canalicular or commoon canalicular stenosis and group 2 included 47 eyes with canalicular or common canalicular stenosis. We checked the statistical significance with Chi-squre Test. RESULTS: Anatomical success rate was 96.0% (121/126) in group 1 and 85.7% (42/49) in group 2; It was statistically significant (p<0.05). And functional success rate was 91.3% (115/126) in group 1 and 73.5% (36/49) in group 2; it had statistic significance (p<0.05). The surgical success rate depending on the size of sac was not statstically significant in goup 1, but it had statstic significance in total group (p<0.05). In site of stenosis, anatomical and functional success rate ware 93.1% (27/29) and 79.37% (23/29) in common canalicular stenosis. It was higer surgical success rate than the other site, but it had no statistic significance. CONCLUSIONS: The canalicular or common canalicular stenosis is important factor in success of lacrimal surgery. Therefore it is recommendable to open the canalicular stenosis by probing prior to performing dacryocystorhinostomy.