title: [Posterior approach to gold weight implant].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate an innovative technique of gold weight implantation through a posterior approach and evaluate its effectiveness and possible complications. The results will be compared to the other existing technique through anterior approach which has been unchanged for a long time, according to the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study (sequence of cases) was undertaken with patients who presented paralytic lagophthalmos for over 6 months. These patients presented many different etiologies and were assisted at the Department of Ophthalmology of Governador Celso Ramos Hospital-SC from February 2006 to February 2007. The implantation through posterior approach was performed by only 2 surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients with paralytic lagophthalmos, 9 men and 4 women, with an average age of 53.07 (range from 17 to 73) were submitted to a gold weight implantation through posterior approach. The follow-up period of those patients varied from 2 months to 1 year, with an average of 6.3 months. In 3 of the patients, the implanted weight caused asymmetry to the margin-reflex distance (MRD) on the primary look position with ptosis of 2 mm in 2 patients and 4 mm in 1 patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although such technique has shown a satisfactory result, the authors believe that it is essential to extend the follow-up a little longer, so that the sustainability of its efficacy can be proved.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Plástica Ocular, Hospital Governador Celso Ramos, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. filipejpereira@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Filipe José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eing
authors.forename: Francisco Azevedo
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavalheiro
authors.forename: Antonio Augusto Velasco E
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006046:Gold