Silicone tube intubation in disorders of the lacrimal system in children.

We analyzed the results of 81 silicone intubations of the lacrimal system in 56 patients aged 6 months to 16 years after posttreatment follow-up of at least two months. Standard probing just before intubation allowed us to group cases by obstruction sites: proximal, distal, or combined. Overall, the outcome was successful in 65 (80.3%) cases. In cases of trauma, success was achieved in two of five patients with proximal, five of nine patients with distal, and two of two patients with combined obstructions. In nontraumatic blockages, we achieved success in 13 of 16 proximal, 30 of 35 distal, and 13 of 14 combined obstructions.