The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the use of Straight needle threading technique to perform frontalis sling by silk suture material as a surgical correction of severe blepharoptosis cases.
Settings and Design: a prospective study was performed on patients who underwent 3-0 silk frontalis suspension using a Straight needle threading technique with an average of 8 months follow up period. Baker’s criteria for satisfactory results was used in which the correction of > = 1 mm from the normal side (or corrected side in bilateral ptosis).
Patients and Methods: An eighty seven eyes in 67 patients were done, 25 eyes were operated on under local anaesthesia and 62 eyes under GA, 20 cases bilateral and 47 cases unilateral, 55.2% males (37 cases) and 44.8% females (30cases). The average age was 12 years (range 2-70 years).
Statistical analysis was done by using the frequency values analysed by the program Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 to analyse the results.
Results: it was satisfactory in 76.4%, unsatisfactory in 23.6%, overcorrection 3.5%, under correction 15.3%, Entropion 0%, Lagophthalmus 4.8%, exposure keratitis 0%.
Conclusion: the use of silk suture by straight needle threading technique is fast, easy, and low cost method to correct a complex problem like sever ptosis with a comparable aesthetic and functional results to other non- autologous materials, with good safety profile.