Effect of short-duration silicone intubation in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

To determine the incidence of premature dislocation of silicone tubes used in the treatment of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and investigate the effect of early dislocation on treatment outcome.

This retrospective review of 227 cases of silicone intubation in the treatment of 151 patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Specific attention was given to premature tube displacement, persistent epiphora, and the need for reoperation. The effect of the duration of silicone intubation and patient age on surgical outcome was assessed. Significance was determined using a Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test.

Tube displacement and removal prior to postoperative day 31 occurred in 93 of 227 (41%) of eyes. Four of 24 eyes (17%) in children younger than 12 months who had premature dislocation of silicone tubes compared with 7 of 40 eyes (18%) that maintained silicone tubes for 31 days or greater had persistent epiphora (p = 0.932); in eyes of children from age 12 months to 23 months, 5 of 46 (11%) had persistent epiphora compared with 6 of 78 (8%) (p = 0.549); and in children age 24 months or older, 9 of 23 (39%) eyes had tearing compared with 3 of 16 (19%) (p = 0.181). Reoperation rates were 1 of 24 (4%) compared with 0 of 40 (0%) (p = 0.23) of eyes in children younger than 12 months; no difference between groups (0%) in children from age 12 months to 23 months; and 5 of 23 (22%) versus 0 of 16 (0%) (p = 0.049) of eyes in children age 24 months or older for early tube removal versus standard tube removal, respectively.

Premature tube displacement and tube removal prior to day 31 does not increase the risk of persistent epiphora or reoperation in children younger than 24 months. Children older than 24 months who have early tube removal have poorer outcomes with a significantly higher reoperation rate.