[Early repair of full layer eyelid defect caused by chemical burn].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the optimal time and method of the early repair of the full layer eyelid defect caused by chemical burn.


METHODS
Free nasal septum mucosal cartilage flap with muscle flap, skin grafting, or skin flap were performed in 18 cases (19 eyelids) with chemical burn within 4 postburn weeks. Eyelid reconstruction and corneal transplantation were performed at the same time in 4 patients.


RESULTS
All the reconstructed eyelids and transplanted cornea survived. The incidence of severe complications, such as exposure keratitis, corneal ulcer and eyeball perforation decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Full layer eyelid defect caused by chemical burn should receive early reconstruction and repair, including timely reconstruction of eyelid for the sake of protecting the eyesight and of alleviating the inflammatory reactions, and the corneal transplantation should be done at the same time to avoid corneal perforation. Nasal septum mucosal cartilage flap could be ideal for the eyelid reconstruction.
Liu
Dao-gong
DG
Department of Plastic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450004, P.R. China.
Niu
Xi-hua
XH
Qin
Wei
W
Li
Lin
L
Zhai
Hong-feng
HF
Wang
Li-ya
LY
D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005143:Eyelids / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged