One-step repair of a large congenital upper eyelid coloboma using a bilamellar graft in an infant: a case report and literature review.

Large congenital lid colobomas are traditionally repaired using 1- or 2-step vascularized flap-graft combinations. However, visual axis occlusion for weeks is a severe problem in small children and recent reports suggest that the flap pedicle does not contribute to blood perfusion. A "one-step" substitute for large lid defects has recently been reported in animals and humans, demonstrating the viability of a bilamellar autograft alone. We present an alternative "one-step" reconstructive approach in a 6-month-old infant who had a centrally-located large upper eyelid defect resulting from a congenital coloboma. The free full-thickness bilamellar autograft was harvested from the contralateral upper eyelid. The follow-up time was 48 months. Cosmetic and functional results were good, the bilamellar graft survived, and there was no graft ischemia, necrosis, or rejection. The boy developed madarosis, lid notching, and mild contour irregularity but needed no reoperation since the parent was satisfied with the surgical result. A free bilamellar eyelid autograft seems to be an outstanding alternative to both "conventional 2-step" and "modern 1-step" options for the reconstruction of large colobomatous eyelid openings, especially in young infants who cannot tolerate visual axis blockage. It is an easy, practical, fast, and effective technique that also saves cost in health care.