Novel air-injection technique to locate the medial cut end of lacerated canaliculus

Long-term outcomes of a new anatomy-based method for finding the medial cut end during late canalicular repair

BACKGROUND

Locating the medial cut end during late repair of canalicular lacerations can be challenging.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and long-term outcomes of a new anatomy-based method for solving the problem of locating the medial cut end.

METHODS

This retrospective interventional study included 85 eyes of 85 consecutive adult patients with unilateral inferior canalicular lacerations who underwent late primary (≥2 days after injury) or secondary (≥6 months after initial treatment) surgery. Before surgery, the lacerations were classified as lateral, central, or medial according to the 'distance from the punctum to the distal end' of the lacerated inferior canaliculus. The time spent to locate the proximal lacerated end (TSL) was recorded. All patients were followed up for ≥1 year to evaluate the lacrimal passage patency and the distance between the superior and inferior punctum (DBSIP, to assess cosmesis).

RESULTS

There were 16 (18.82%) lateral-type, 55 (64.71%) central-type, and 14 (16.47%) medial-type canalicular lacerations. The TSL was 3.48 ± 1.05 (range 0.9-6.8) min for all patients and differed significantly among the three types of canalicular lacerations (P < 0.001). Lacrimal irrigation showed patent lacrimal passages in 69 patients (81.18%) at 3 months and a further 4 patients (4.71%) at 6 months, residual stenosis without obstruction in 5 patients (5.88%), and obstruction in 7 patients (8.24%). The postoperative DBSIP on the affected side was shorter than the preoperative DBSIP (2.66 ± 0.66 vs. 3.09 ± 1.72 mm, P = 0.006) and comparable to that on the unaffected side (2.78 ± 0.40 mm).

CONCLUSION

Our new anatomy-based method is efficient and achieves good long-term outcomes for all types of late canalicular repair.

A case series study of lacrimal canalicular laceration repair with the bi-canalicular stent

BACKGROUND

Lacrimal canalicular laceration can be caused by trauma on the ocular adnexa, such as penetrating or blunt injuries, accounting for approximately 16% of eyelid lacerations and 20% of eye traumas. Historically, canalicular anastomosis combined with bi-canalicular or mono-canalicular stent intubation has been used for canalicular laceration repair. In this study, we analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of lacrimal canalicular laceration and evaluate the clinical outcomes of repair using the bi-canalicular stent in central China. It aims to provide a reference for clinical work.

METHODS

This is a review of 338 patients (338 eyes) with eyelid lacrimal canaliculus laceration undergoing reparative bi-canalicular stent intubation from January 1st 2017 to December 30th 2020. The analyzed data included demographics, the place of occurrence of the trauma, the mechanism of injury, additional injury, and surgical outcomes at follow-up. The outcomes included anatomic success, functional success, and complications.

RESULTS

The average age was 39.6±20.0 years (1 to 88 years). Of all the 338 patients, 254 (75.15%) patients were men. Upper and lower canalicular lacerations were seen in 68 (20.12%) and 256 (75.74%) patients, respectively. Also, 14 patients (4.14%) presented with both upper and lower canalicular lacerations. Most injuries occurred on the streets (146, 43.20%), followed by the home in 111 (32.84%) patients. Traffic accidents were the leading cause of injury (127, 37.57%), including 72 (21.30%) cases of electric bike-associated accidents, followed by fall-related trauma in 65 (19.23%) cases. During the follow-up, there were 6 (1.78%) patients with eyelid ectropion and 9 (2.66%) patients with stent extrusion and loss due to eye rubbing and pulling the sutures out. At the end of follow-up, the anatomical success rate was 95.86% and the functional success rate was 89.64%.

CONCLUSIONS

Electric bike-associated accidents occurring on the streets is the current leading cause of injury in central China. Lacrimal canalicular laceration repair with a bi-canalicular stent offers an effective surgical therapeutic strategy for traumatic canalicular lacerations. In addition, avoiding traffic accidents is also one way prevent lacrimal canalicular laceration.

Eiology and prognosis of canalicular laceration repair using canalicular anastomosis combined with bicanalicular stent intubation

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the etiology of lacrimal canalicular laceration and explore the possible risk factors influencing prognosis.

METHODS

The data of 142 patients (142 eyes) with lacrimal canalicular lacerations who were surgically treated using canalicular anastomosis combined with bicanalicular stent intubation between March 2017 and March 2018 were reviewed. The analyzed data contained demographic information, types of trauma, injury locations, associated additional ocular injuries, and surgical outcomes at follow-up. The main outcome measures were anatomic success rate, functional success rate, and complications of surgery.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 42.07 years (ranging from 1 to 75 years). Among the 142 patients, 112 (78.87%) were males. Upper and lower canalicular lacerations were found in 14 (9.86%) and 112 (78.87%) patients, respectively. Meanwhile, both upper and lower canalicular lacerations were found in 16 (11.27%) patients. Electric bike accidents comprised the leading cause of injury, accounting for 76 (53.52%) cases. There were 100 (70.42%) patients who had lid lacerations without tarsal plate fracture and 42 (29.58%) patients who had lid lacerations with tarsal plate fractures. The anatomic success rate was 98.59% and the functional success rate was 83.8%. The functional reconstruction failure rates were higher in patients with indirect injuries, lid lacerations with tarsal plate fractures, and those with punctum splitting (P < 0.05). Surgical complications were detected in the form of lacrimal punctum ectropion in 3 (2.11%) patients, punctum splitting in 2 (1.41%) patients, and stent extrusion and loss in 2 (1.41%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Electric bike accidents have become the leading cause of injury instead of motor vehicle accidents because of the changes in the lifestyles of people. Indirect injuries, lid lacerations with tarsal plate fractures, and those with punctum splitting were significantly more likely to lead to poor prognosis, as confirmed by the lower functional success rate of surgery.

Management outcomes of canalicular laceration in children

PURPOSE:

To report the epidemiological data, clinical profile, management, and outcomes of canalicular lacerations in the pediatric age group in a tertiary eye care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS:

This retrospective study evaluated pediatric patients who underwent canalicular laceration repair in the last 15 years at King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), Saudi Arabia. Demographics, causes of injury, type of trauma, surgical approach, and outcomes were analyzed. The success of repair was defined as the absence of epiphora after canaliculus repair with negative dye disappearance test (DDT). Success within subgroups was compared. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

The study sample was comprised of 43 patients, with a median age of 6.35 years (range, 1.77–17.96 years). Most of the patients were males (69.8%). Sharp objects were the most common cause of canalicular laceration (46.5%), being 9 (20.9 %) caused by a metallic clothing hanger. Lower canaliculus was involved in 65.1%, upper canaliculus in 32.6%, and both canaliculi in 2.3% of patients. Canaliculus repair was performed with a bicanalicular stent in 58.1 % and monocanalicular stent in 41.9 % of patients.The success rate and risk of complications using bicanalicular or monocanalicular stent did not differ (P = 0.065). Functional success was achieved in 87.5% of patients.

CONCLUSION:

Canalicular laceration is common in male children, mainly affecting the lower canaliculus. There was no difference in success rate between monocanalicular and bicanalicular stent. As canalicular laceration could be related to social determinants, the main causes should be highlighted in community health education initiatives.

A new method for locating the proximal lacerated bicanalicular ends in Chinese preschoolers and long-term outcomes after surgical repair

This report is to explore the long-term outcomes of surgical repair of bicanalicular lacerations in Chinese preschool patients. In this report, 12 patients with bicanalicular lacerations were studied between September 2010 and September 2015. The distance from the punctum to the distal canalicular lacerated end was recorded before surgery to classify different types of trauma. All patients underwent surgical repair of the lacerated canaliculi by 1 surgeon within 48 hours after the trauma occurred. After treatment, the lesions were divided into 3 types according to the distance from the punctum to the distal lacerated canalicular end as follows: lateral, medial, and the central. Based on this classification, each lacerated canaliculus was successfully repaired. Nearly half of the lesions (46%) were lateral, 42% were central, and 12% were medial. The average time for locating the proximal lacerated end of the canaliculus was 3.33 ± 1.52 minutes (range, 1.0-7.0 minutes). The follow-up time ranged from 6.0 months to 4.5 year (median, 25 months). Our study showed that 96% (23) of the canaliculi were completely patent. One lateral lesion presented with residual outdoor epiphora in cold weather secondary to left lower canalicular stenosis. All 12 patients had excellent cosmetic results. Our study displayed a surgical management based on the 3 types of lesions helped to find the proximal lacerated end of the canaliculus, and provided excellent long-term outcomes of drainage function.

A new method for identifying the cut ends in canalicular laceration

To locate the proximal and distal cut ends of the canaliculus following trauma is the most difficult part of canalicular repair, especially in patients with complex acute canalicular lacerations and late presenting canalicular lacerations. Previously, irrigation and air-injection technique are reported and widely used to locate the cut ends of lacerated canaliculus. However, we have developed a novel technique in which with a 23 Ga fiber optic light pipe is used to identify the cut ends of the canaliculus allowing silicone tube intubation of the lacrimal system. The mean time from initiation of the identification of the cut ends of the canaliculus to insertion of the silicone tube was 5 minutes. In this study, the cut ends were successfully identified by using this novel method in 33 cases of acute and late presenting canalicular laceration for canalicular reconstruction without any complications. This light-guided technique may represent an improvement in the surgical repair of canalicular lacerations.

Canalicular laceration repair using a viscoelastic injection to locate and dilate the proximal torn edge

BACKGROUND

Canalicular lacerations are common complications of eyelid trauma in the pediatric population. Irrigating air, water, and colored or viscous agents through the intact canaliculus have been suggested to identify the torn proximal edge. We report our experience in repairing canalicular lacerations using a novel viscoelastic injection technique with a Monoka monocanalicular stent.

METHODS

The medical records of patients <18 years of age who underwent repair of a canalicular laceration with a monocanalicular stent using superficial viscoelastic deployment to locate the torn canaliculus were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, cause of eyelid injury, surgical management using our novel viscoelastic injection technique, and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 38 children with lid lacerations were identified, of whom the 17 with canalicular involvement were included (mean age, 6.27 years). Canalicular injury in these 17 was due to dog bite (9 patients) and shearing trauma (8 patients). In 11 patients, the injury was located in the lower lid; in 4, the upper lid; and in 2, combined upper and lower lids. All patients had good anatomic repair and on follow-up had negative dye disappearance tests and were free of tearing.

CONCLUSIONS

Deploying viscoelastic superficially near, and injecting into the injured canaliculus can improve visualization of the operative field by retracting the surrounding tissue and tamponading any bleeding, which aids in location and dilation of the torn canaliculus initially and in subsequent steps, eases intubation into the lubricated torn canaliculus and nasolacrimal duct, and avoids iatrogenic injury to an uninjured canaliculus.

Novel Pigtail Cannula for a Canalicular-Involving Eyelid Laceration

An 89-year-old woman presented with a canalicular-involving laceration/avulsion of the right lower eyelid after a fall. The inferior canaliculus was severed deep within the wound, and the ends were difficult to identify. Novel pigtail cannulas, designed by the authors, were used for lacrimal system intubation and suture passage. Satisfactory cosmetic and functional results were achieved. These cannulas facilitate repair by integrating multiple functionalities in a single instrument. Once a cannula has been inserted and rotated, the location of fluid egress provides important clues. If injected saline appears in the nasopharynx but not in the wound, absence of a common canaliculus can be suspected. Injection of viscoelastic, air or fluorescein-impregnated saline also permits easier identification of the cut end of the canaliculus within the wound and facilitates appropriate rotation of the pigtail.