title: Management of periocular post burn scarring in the epileptics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical presentation and management of patients with epilepsy presenting with periocular post burn scarring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from September 1999 to September 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 23 patients who had epilepsy and presented with periocular post-burn scarring to the eye department for management. All patients had contractures of their lids with variable amounts of corneal scarring and damaged to the eye ball. The surgical procedure performed consisted of release of contracture, horizontal lid shortening and application of free skin graft.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 18 (78.26%) female and 5 (21.73%) male patients. The age range was from 18 to 45 years with a mean of 28 years. In 17 (73.91%) patients, lid contracture was released to cover their eyeballs. In 6 (26.08%) patients the eyeball was lost due to late presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There should be a high index of suspicion in facial burns for ophthalmic damage and early referral to an ophthalmologist should be made to prevent complications. Early release of contracture with application of full or partial thickness skin grafts is advisable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Eye, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
authors.forename: Alyscia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghani
authors.forename: Syed Wasim
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Akhter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016038:Skin Transplantation