title: Rectangular 3-snip punctoplasty outcomes: preservation of the lacrimal pump in punctoplasty surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a method of rectangular 3-snip punctoplasty (2 vertical cuts at either side of the vertical canaliculus and 1 cut at the base). Outcomes are compared with the more conventional and anatomically destructive 3-snip triangular punctoplasty (1 cut at the vertical canaliculus, 1 cut at the horizontal canaliculus, and 1 cut at the base).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of all eyes undergoing 3-snip punctoplasty between January 1, 2003 and January 8, 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients were eligible for this study. One hundred eight eyes with patent punctum and lacrimal systems prior to surgery underwent punctoplasty (49 rectangular and 59 triangular punctoplasty). Follow-up of 8 days to 2.3 years (mean, 0.68 years). Ages ranged between 16.8 and 99.8 years (mean, 69.5 years). Forty-five patients (60%) were women. There was a trend for patients to be symptomatic postoperatively despite patent punctum and lacrimal systems following triangular (10 of 59, 16.9%) than those who underwent rectangular punctoplasty (5 of 49, 10.2%) although this difference was not significant (difference in proportions = 0.05; CI: -17.635 to 17.645; p = 0.99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that there were more failures in eyes with triangular punctoplasty. Previous studies have shown that the punctae and canaliculi are important in normal lacrimal drainage. Rectangular punctoplasty is a simple, safe, and quick procedure that maintains the normal anatomy and physiology of the canalicular system, while maintaining a patent punctum and should be considered as a less destructive alternative to the traditional triangular punctoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Eye Hospital, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, UK. melchak@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chak
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Irvine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult