Abstract
Methods
Eighty-eight eyes of 87 patients who underwent silicone tube intubation were divided into two groups based on the tie method: a silicone silastic sheet group (Group 1, n=59) and a nylon 6-0 suture knot group (Group 2, n=29). The two groups were compared according to their success rates, recurrence rates and complications.
Results
No significant difference was found in the success rate between the two groups (83.0% in Group 1 and 82.7% in Group 2). However, Group 2 showed a significantly higher rate of postoperative complications than Group 1. In Group 1, 5/59 (8.4%) eyes had ocular irritation, 2/59 (3.4%) eyes exhibited tube prolapse, conjunctivitis, corneal erosion, and dacryocystitis and 1/69 (1.6%) eyes had a punctal slit after intubation. In Group 2, 3/29 (10.3%) eyes had ocular irritation, 2/29 (6.9%) eyes exhibited tube prolapse, conjunctivitis, a punctal slit, and dacryocystitis, and 1/29 (3.4%) eyes showed corneal erosion, or a granuloma after intubation. A recurrence of symptomatic tearing was found in 6/59 (10%) eyes in Group 1 and 3/29 (10%) in Group 2.
Conclusions
In silicone tube intubation of incomplete NLD obstruction, the usage of silicone silastic sheets to tie both ends of the silicone tube produced a lower complication rate and a higher success rate than that of the suture knot group. Lower tension on the nasolacrimal passage in the silicone silastic sheet group allows for a significantly lower rate of punctal slit development. Therefore, the method of using silicone silasitic sheets can be considered useful in the treatment of NLD obstruction.
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References
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![]() | Figure 1.A tie made at the silicone silastic sheet by using silicone tube (A), and a tie made by Nylon 6-0 (B). |
Table 1.
Clinical Characteristics
Groups | Group 1 | Group 2 | p-value |
---|---|---|---|
Age | 46.3 (15-75) years | 46.0 (21-61) years | >0.05† |
Male : Female | 19 : 40 eyes | 8 : 21 eyes | >0.05* |
Symptom duration | 12 (1.0-120) months | 11 (1.0-36) months | >0.05† |
Tube removal | 4.6 (1.0-12.0) months | 5.1 (2.5-8.0) months | >0.05† |
Success rate | 49/59 (83.1%) | 24/29 (82.7%) | >0.05* |
Table 2.
The Rate and the type of postoperative complications after Silicone tube intubation using silastic sheet or suture knot group in NLD obstructed patients
Group 1 No. of eyes (%) | Group 2 No. of eyes (%) | ) P value* | |
---|---|---|---|
Ocular Irritation | 5 (8.4%) | 3 (10.3%) | > 0.05 |
Punctal slit | 1 (1.6%) | 2 (6.9%) | 0.03 |
Tube prolapse | 2 (3.4%) | 2 (6.9%) | > 0.05 |
Granuloma | 0 | 1 (3.4%) | > 0.05 |
Conjunctivitis | 2 (3.4%) | 2 (6.9%) | > 0.05 |
Corneal erosion | 2 (3.4%) | 1 (3.4%) | > 0.05 |
Inflammation of lacrimal passage | 2 (3.4%) | 2 (6.9%) | > 0.05 |
Total | 14/59 (23.7%) | 13/29 (37.9%) | 0.04 |