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Lateral tarsal strip plus skin-muscle flap excision in the treatment of lower eyelid involutional entropion

ABSTRACT This article examines the effectiveness of skin-muscle flap excision in conjunction with a lateral tarsal strip for the treatment of involutional entropion. Ninety-six eyelids in 83 consecutive patients with involutional entropion were treated using a standardized surgical procedure. All patients underwent lower eyelid tightening with a lateral tarsal strip, dissection of a skin-muscle flap inferiorly through a subciliary incision and excision of redundant skin as well as orbicularis muscle. Follow-up data was obtained by retrospective chart review and telephone interviews. 80 patients were included in this study. The only exclusion criteria was failure to attend the 1 week follow-up appointment, n = 3. There was only one recurrence which was mild and revised under local anesthesia. Two patients had overcorrection with mild ectropion but did not require additional surgery. In those that completed their initial post-operative visit, the average time follow-up time was 502 days. Excision of a skin-muscle flap is a useful addition to lateral tarsal strip surgery in the treatment of involutional entropion and is a quick procedure producing excellent functional and cosmetic results. To our knowledge, this is the first cohort of patients to be reported using this technique where all patients had a standardized surgical approach. Additional studies are needed to compare long-term outcomes of this technique against other surgical treatments.