The use of fibrin tissue glue in the repair of cicatricial ectropion of the lower eyelid.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of full-thickness skin graft adhesion using fibrin tissue glue (TISSEEL) in cicatricial ectropion repair of the lower eyelid.


METHODS
This study was a prospective case series. Nine eyes of 8 consecutive patients with cicatricial ectropion were included. All patients underwent a conjunctival approach lower eyelid retractor plication, lateral tarsal strip, and insertion of a full-thickness skin graft secured with TISSEEL. Symptoms of epiphora, eye and eyelid irritation, discharge, and graft size were recorded pre- and postoperatively.


RESULTS
All of the patients were satisfied with their postoperative appearance, and the symptoms of eye and eyelid irritation, discharge, and visual disturbance were eliminated. Fifty-five percent of patients had complained of watering some or all of the time preoperatively, whereas only 33% admitted to occasional watering postoperatively. The average size of the graft reduced by 18% at 1 week, 39% at 1 month, and 40% at 3 months from the initial size.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibrin tissue glue used to attach a full-thickness skin graft during cicatricial ectropion repair is an effective technique and may offer additional benefits over sutured graft fixation. Most of the reduction in graft size occurred in the first postoperative month, which indicates that the time window for modulation of the graft is in the first few weeks after surgery. The vertical graft length was affected to a greater extent than the horizontal length.
Osborne
Sarah F
SF
Ophthalmology Department, Greenlane Clinical Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. sarahfosborne@hotmail.com
Eidsness
Ryan B
RB
Carroll
Stuart C
SC
Rosser
Paul M
PM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D004483:Ectropion / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery*; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives