[Duration of eyelid suture following tarso-conjunctival transposition]

Temporary closure of the lids is an obvious handicap for elderly tumor patients after the first step of the modified Hughes' tarsoconjunctival flap. So far, it has been suggested that the duration of lid closure should be between 2 weeks and 3 months. We report on 36 patients who were operated on between 1984 and 1989. In 16 patients, the lids were divided after 3 weeks. In another 13 patients, they were divided up to the end of the 5th week postoperatively. Neither dehiscence of the wounds nor tissue necrosis appeared. No progressive lowering of the lid margin occurred. This observation suggests that division of the lids can be performed without risk after 3 to 4 weeks.