title: Postoperative evaluation of skin incision in external dacryocystorhinostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the appearance of the skin incision in external dacryocystorhinostomy 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, interventional, noncomparative case series of consecutive cases of external dacryocystorhinostomy was performed by 3 surgeons. At 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery, patients were asked to grade their incision, and standardized photographs were evaluated by 3 blinded observers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four consecutive patients were admitted and followed for 6 months. Six weeks after surgery, 9 of 34 patients could not see their incision site (26%), 13 of 34 graded it as minimally visible (38%), 9 of 34 (26%) graded it as moderately visible, and 3 of 34 patients (9%) graded it as very visible (grade 3). Two of 34 patients (6%) were not satisfied with the appearance of the incision. Six months after surgery, 15 of 34 patients (44%) could not see their incision site (grade 0), 16 of 34 (47%) graded it as minimally visible, 3 of 34 patients (9%) graded it as moderately visible, and no patient graded it as very visible. All patients were satisfied with the appearance of their incision. Photographic evaluation of patients 6 weeks after surgery by the 3 observers showed an average score of 1.12, 1.18, and 1.24. There was not a statistically significant difference between the observers (p = 0.95). At 6 months after surgery, the average scores were 0.56, 0.74, and 0.79. There was not a statistically significant difference between the observers (p = 0.43). The change in appearance of the incision at 6 weeks and at 6 months was statistically significant (p < 0.044), as evaluated by patients and observers (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The skin incision in external dacryocystorhinostomy is satisfactory to most patients. Its appearance is improved with time; 86% of the incisions were graded invisible or minimally visible by observers and 91% by patients after 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Consultores Oftalmológicos, Buenos Aires, Argentina. info@martindevoto.com
authors.forename: Martín H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Devoto
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: Francesco P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Conciliis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009301:Nasolacrimal Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*