Canaliculorhinostomy-Indications and Surgical Results.

PURPOSE

To report the surgical results of canaliculorhinostomy for patients with distal canalicular obstruction and lacking a structurally functional lacrimal sac who would otherwise require a conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) with Jones tube placement.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational case series.

METHODS

Setting: Single tertiary institution.

PERIOD

November 1994 to June 2011.

PATIENT POPULATION

Sixteen patients with canalicular obstruction at or beyond 8 mm from the punctum, with an absent or unidentifiable lacrimal sac.

INTERVENTION

Patients underwent canaliculorhinostomy, whereby direct anastomosis of the canaliculi or common canaliculus to the nasal mucosa was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Anatomic and functional success.

RESULTS

Our study comprised 16 patients with a mean age of 44.9 ± 21.9 years. Ten (62.5%) were female and 6 (37.5%) male. Mean duration of follow-up was 7.8 years. Causes of an absent or unidentifiable lacrimal sac included previous trauma (n = 8, 50.0%), previous dacryocystorhinostomy (n = 4, 25.0%), chronic dacryocystitis (n = 3, 18.8%), and previous dacryocystectomy (n = 1, 6.2%). Anastomoses between the upper and lower canaliculi and the nasal mucosa was performed in 6 patients, while that between the common canaliculus and nasal mucosa was performed in 10. Anatomic and functional success rates were 87.5% (n = 14) and 81.3% (n = 13), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Canaliculorhinostomy has reasonable success rates and provides an effective surgical alternative for a group of patients in whom CDCR with Jones tube placement would otherwise have been indicated.