[Lacrimal traumatology]

Lacrimal system injuries represent a significant part of ocular emergencies and mainly affect males of various ages including very young children. The most frequent presentations are canalicular laceration with a palpebral wound medial to the lacrimal punctum. The inferior canaliculus is the most commonly affected but bilateral injuries or injuries affecting both canaliculi can occur. The main causes are dog bites in children, scuffles in young adults and falls in elderlies. Antitetanic and antirabic measures have to be considered for open cases. The diagnosis is easily made by inspection and can be confirmed by probing. Other lesions can be associated and require proper identification, especially eyeball laceration requiring surgical repair within 6 hours. Otherwise, isolated canalicular wounds are to be repaired within 48 hours by an anastomotic suture with or without mono- or bi-canalicular silicone intubation. Other lacrimal tract injuries involving the lacrimal sac or the nasolacrimal duct are rare, commonly associated with blunt craniofacial trauma or iatrogenic after some surgical procedures.