title: A comparison between monocanalicular and pushed monocanalicular silicone intubation in the treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the success rate of monocanalicular versus pushed monocanalicular silicone intubation (PMCI) of the nasolacrimal duct for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective randomized clinical trial 53 eyes of 49 patients with CNLDO underwent either monocanalicular silicone intubation (MCI) (n=28 eyes) or PMCI (n=25 eyes). All procedures were performed by 1 oculoplastic surgeon. Treatment success was defined as the complete resolution of epiphora at 3mo after tube removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical outcome was assessed in 20 eyes with MCI and 20 eyes with PMCI. The mean age of treatment was 26.25±10.08mo (range, 13-49mo) for MCI and 26.85±12.25mo (range, 16-68mo) for PMCI. Treatment success was achieved in 18 of 20 eyes (90.0%) in the MCI group compared with 10 of 20 eyes (50%) in the PMCI group (P=0.01). In the PMCI group, the tube loss (30%) was greater than the MCI group (5%), however the differences between the 2 groups proved to be not significant (P=0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that MCI has higher success rate in CNLDO treatment compared with PMCI in this small series of patients.
authors.affiliation: Strabismus and Oculoplastic Unit, Nikookari Eye Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Abbasi St, Tabriz 5154645395, Iran.
authors.forename: Dima
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andalib
authors.affiliation: Strabismus and Oculoplastic Unit, Nikookari Eye Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Abbasi St, Tabriz 5154645395, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mansoori
keywords: congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction; lacrimal drainage system; silicone intubation