Donor site morbidity in free tarsal grafts.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if harvesting free tarsal grafts from the upper eyelids is associated with significant morbidity.


METHODS
Prospective case series.


METHODS
Consecutive patients managed with free tarsal grafts by three of the authors (D.S., D.G., R.G.) over a 4-year period.


RESULTS
Ninety-one eyelids in 75 patients were operated on using the free tarsal graft for various eyelid pathologies. Mean follow-up period was 14.83 +/- 8.45 months (range, 4 to 42 months). Contour peaking in donor upper eyelid appeared in two eyelids (2.2%), lash ptosis in four eyelids (4.4%) of three patients, and donor site infection in one eyelid (1.1%). Four patients (5.3%) complained of a transient ocular discomfort. There were no cases of postoperative changes on the eyelid height, entropion, or keratopathy in the donor site eye. Most of the donor site complications were mild or transient and required no further surgery. In three patients who underwent subsequent surgery to treat preexisting ptosis or retraction of the donor eyelid, the results were less predictable and further procedures were required.


CONCLUSIONS
Free tarsal grafts harvested from the upper eyelids, with preservation of at least 4 mm of the tarsal plate inferiorly, do not lead to significant donor site morbidity. However, subsequent procedures to alter the position of the donor eyelid may be less predictable.
Leibovitch
Igal
I
Oculoplastic and Orbital Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.
Selva
Dinesh
D
Davis
Garry
G
Ghabrial
Raf
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019882:Blepharoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous