Acute and Past Common Lacrimal Canalicular Lacerations: A Report of Two Cases.

Lacrimal canalicular lacerations can be caused by trauma to the ocular adnexa, such as a penetrating or blunt injury. Only a few cases involving the common canaliculus or lacrimal sac have been reported, and only a few reports have described the detailed course of treatment. Here, we report an acute case of common lacrimal canalicular laceration and a case of a previous common canalicular laceration. The acute case was treated with a bicanalicular stent directly inserted into the nasolacrimal duct. The case with a previous common canalicular laceration was treated with external dacryocystorhinostomy combined with monocanalicular stent insertion. These treatments may be appropriate for the initial surgery and can be selected before performing conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy.

Reference role of middle turbinate axilla in lacrimal sac localization assisted by computed tomographic dacryocystography-reference value of middle turbinate in locating lacrimal sac.

BACKGROUND: The middle turbinate axilla (MTA) has always been used as a stable anatomic landmark for endoscopic surgeons to locate the lacrimal sac on the lateral nasal wall. Yet, little is known about whether the lacrimal sac size will affect the positioning effect of MTA on lacrimal sac. The aim of this study was to investigate the regularity of lacrimal sac size and lacrimal sac localization through the reference position of the MTA on computed tomographic dacryocystography (CT-DCG) images. METHODS: A series of 192 endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgeries were performed. All the patients had been diagnosed as unilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction and received CT-DCG examinations. According to the maximum transverse diameter of the lacrimal sac on CT-DCG, the patients were classified into three groups. Measurements were taken on CT-DCG parasagittal images. RESULTS: The average distance from the sac superior fundus (SSF) to the MTA was 7.52 mm ± 3.23 mm, and it increased with the increase of the maximum transverse diameter of the sac among groups (p < 0.01). The average distance from the common canaliculus (CC) to the MTA was 3.95 mm ± 2.49 mm. No significant difference was observed among the groups (p = 0.11). The average distance from the CC to the SSF was 3.41 mm ± 1.31 mm, and it increased with the increase of the sac transverse diameter among groups (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The lacrimal sac can be accurately located on the lateral nasal wall by the reference position of the MTA on CT-DCG images. The distance of the SSF to the MTA and the SSF to the CC is related to the lacrimal sac size. The relative position of the CC to the MTA is relatively stable on CT-DCG images, which make it possible to locate the lacrimal sac of different sizes and the corresponding nasal mucosa incision design in endoscopic DCR.

Dacryoendoscopic examination for location of internal orifice of congenital lacrimal fistula: A case series.

We examined the location of the internal orifice of congenital lacrimal fistula using a dacryoendoscope in 5 patients. A suture inserted from the skin orifice and passing into the lacrimal drainage system through the fistula track was identified using a dacryoendoscope. Consequently, the suture passed into the lacrimal sac in all patients. Although the internal orifice had been reported to be predominantly located in the common canaliculus, the methods previously used for identification of the internal orifice were less accurate. The results in our study suggest a higher incidence of congenital lacrimal fistulae connected with the lacrimal sac.

Frequency and Characteristic Findings of the Common Canaliculus in Koreans

PURPOSE: To investigate the different types of anatomical connection between the lacrimal sac and the canaliculi using digital subtraction dacryocystography (DCG) in Koreans. METHODS: The authors of the present study performed digital subtraction DCG in Korean patients who presented with epiphora from January 2010 until December 2010. The 248 patients (496 eyes) who achieved a satisfactory DCG image were classified as follows: 1) type I: visible common canaliculus (CC), 2) type II: no visible CC and the canaliculi entering the sac at the point where they meet on the sac wall (common opening), 3) type III: no visible CC and common opening, and each canaliculus entering the sac from different points. RESULTS: Out of a total of 496 eyes, CC was observed in 449 eyes (type I: 90.5%). In 41 eyes (8.3%), the CC was absent (type II), but the upper and lower canaliculi joined at the wall of the lacrimal sac. In 6 eyes (1.2%), the upper and lower canaliculi entered the sac separately (type III). Eighteen patients (7.3%) showed different types of lacrimal drainage system between the 2 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The CC may not exist in all patients, and the type of anatomical connection between the lacrimal sac and the canaliculi may be different between the eyes in the same individuals. Although such patients comprise a minority, anatomical knowledge of the lacrimal drainage system could be helpful to assess and manage patients with lacrimal drainage disorder.

Bicanalicular Silicone Tube Intubation after Simple Probing in Common Canaliculus Obstruction

PURPOSE: To investigate the surgical outcome of silicone tube intubation after simple probing performed in obstruction of distal part of canaliculus or common canaliculus. METHODS: Silicone tube intubation was done in 24 patients with obstruction of distal part of canaliculus or common canaliculus, whose obstruction was readily opened by simple probing under mild pushing pressure and who had successful lacrimal irrigation after probing. Silicone tube was removed at about 6 months after operation and the epiphora improvement, dye disappearance test, and lacrimal irrigation test were evaluated at 2 month after the intubation and 2 months after the tube removal. RESULTS: The average of probing to perforate the obstructed canaliculus were 2.1. At 1 month after the intubation, epiphora was improved in 19 patients (79.2%), and 18 patients (75.0%) showed a grade 2+ or lower in dye disappearance test, and lacrimal irrigation was successful in 21 patients (87.5%). 2 months after the tube removal, epiphora was improved in 18 patients (75.0%), and 18 patients (75.0%) showed a grade 2+ or lower in dye disappearance test, and lacrimal irrigation was successful in 20 patients (83.3%). CONCLUSIONS: When the obstruction of distal part of canaliculus or common canaliculus is thin membranous nature, good surgical outcome can be expected by silicone tube intubation after simple probing using mild pushing pressure without other special procedure.