The Surgical Efficacy of External Lacrimal Surgery without Nasal Mucosal Flap

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical result of lacrimal surgery with total removal of the nasal mucosal flap. METHODS: Lacrimal surgery was performed in 30 eyes of 26 patients, by external approach without the nasal mucosal flap from February 2001 to August 2002. The surgical method was similar to conventional dacryocystorhinostomy, but the nasal mucosa of the osteotomy site was removed with a No.11 Bard-Parker blade and Westcott scissors. After insertion of a silicone tube, the anterior flap of the lacrimal sac was sutured to the soft tissues around the osteotomy site. Surgical efficacy was evaluated after a follow-up period of 7 22 months (average, 11.5 months). RESULTS: The primary success rate was 96.7% (29/30 eyes). We performed revision of mucosa ostium in the one failed eye, thereby raising the final success rate to 100%. The size of mucosa ostium was 0.7 3.0 mm (average 1.17 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory surgical results were obtained without anastomosis of the lacrimal sac or the nasal mucosa during external approach, lacrimal surgery. We suggest that this method is a good surgical procedure in external approach, lacrimal surgery.