The repair of eyelid defect with free hard palate mucosal autograft.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the free hard palate mucosal autograft as a new replacement in eyelid reconstruction.

METHODS

(1) Animal experiment, 12 eyelid defects from 3 dogs were repaired with hard palate mucosal autograft, and after operation they had excellent eyelid appearance. The findings of pathological examination, the morphology and thickness of epithelium are the same as its original. The cells and vascularization in the connective tissue are normal. The arrangement of collagen fiber bundles is regular. (2) Clinical practice, 15 eyelid defects from 13 eyes included 3 upper eyelids, 8 lower eyelids and 2 of both upper and lower eyelids. 5 cases were of malignant tumor and 8 cases of trauma. 6 eyelids were of total defect, 4 eyelids of two-third defect and 5 eyelids of a half to one-third defect. The ages ranged from 22 to 79 years old. We used the intermediate split thickness of hard palate mucosal autograft to do the eyelid reconstruction. All the cases were followed for an average of 11.3 months after the reconstruction.

RESULTS

8 eyelid defects were cured, 3 were improved significantly and 4 improved. No severe complications were found.

CONCLUSION

The hard palate mucosal autograft acts not only as a palpebral supporting tissue but also forms palpebral conjunctiva.