title: Deep levator palpebrae superioris detachment during aponeurosis surgery via transcutaneous approach in ptosis correction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of deep levator palpebrae superioris - Müller's muscle complex detachment from conjunctiva and other connective tissues in order to improve post operative lid opening and levator function for ptosis surgery via the transcutaneous approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, 23 patients (29 eyelids) were surgically treated for ptosis repair between 2003 and 2008. All surgery was performed by the same surgeon. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group (12 patients) consisted of patients who underwent deep levator dissection during surgery; the second group (11 patients), used as control group, consisted of patients treated without deep levator dissection. Postoperative lid opening was compared in the two groups using the Mann-Whitney non-parametric test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparison between change in lid opening changes between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deep levator detachment can be included among standard surgical steps during ptosis surgery via transcutaneous approach in order to improve postoperative lid opening and levator function.
authors.affiliation: University eye hospital, Via Liborio Giuffre' 13, 90127 Palermo, Italy. luigidirosa@tin.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Rosa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirrello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carita
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morreale Bubella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019882:Blepharoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult