Anterior lamellar deficit ectropion management.

AIMS

To report the outcomes of using a modified Bick's procedure (MBP) combined with a monopedicle myocutaneous flap (MMCF) or full-thickness skin grafting (FTSG) to correct lower eyelid cicatricial ectropion.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective case-note review of patients undergoing cicatricial ectropion repair between 2012 and 2016 was undertaken. Patient demographics, clinical features, the type of surgery, and outcomes were analysed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four eyelids of 21 treated patients (17 males; 81%) with lower eyelid cicatricial ectropion were identified. They presented at an average age of 79.8 years (median 78; range 58-92). The commonest symptom was epiphora (15 eyelids; 63%), 12 patients (50%) experienced intermittent irritation, and 2(8%) had mucoid discharge. The aetiology included actinic cicatricial ectropion with midface descent (n = 19, 79%), previous tumour resection (n = 3, 13%), trauma (n = 1) and other previous eyelid surgery (n = 1). At a mean follow-up period of 15.3 months (median 6; range 6-52), 22 eyelids (92%) had anatomical success with good cosmesis and two eyelids (8%) had mild residual punctal ectropion. Twenty-one patients (87%) experienced functional success. Comparing the outcomes of MBP + FTSG versus MBP + MMCF, there was no statically significant difference in terms of anatomical (p = 0.48) and functional (p = 1.0) success rates. No cases of failure or recurrence were noted during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior lamellar deficit ectropion occurs in the absence of overt scarring. It is crucial to fully address both the horizontal laxity and the anterior lamellar deficit associated with such ectropion to minimise the risks of early failure and recurrence. MBP combined with FTSG or MMCF is a safe and effective treatment for such 'cicatricial ectropion' and has a low early recurrence rate.