Outcomes of two surgical techniques for major trichiasis treatment

The purpose of this article is to analyze the outcomes of two surgical techniques to treat major trichiasis. A retrospective chart review of 67 patients (89 eyelids) with major trichiasis was performed who underwent surgical treatment using one of two techniques: intermarginal split lamella with graft (ISLG group) or lid lamella resection (LLR group). There were 30 lids in the ISLG group with mean patient age of 71.8 years and 63.3% were females. There were 59 lids in the LLR group with mean patient age of 72.5 years and 52.5% were female. The minimum postoperative follow up was six months. Statistical analysis included descriptive measures, Goodman association test for contrasts between and within multinomial populations and nonparametric Mann-Whitney test for comparison between groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The underlying causes of trichiasis were blepharitis (37.07%), chronic meibomitis (21.3%), multiple causes (20.2%), ectropion (11.2%), actinic keratosis (6.7%), or prior ocular surgery (3.3%). Postoperatively, in the ISLG group, there were 20% lids with complete success, 50% underwent laser or electrolysis, 16.7% required further surgery, and 13.3% were unsuccessful. Postoperatively, in the LLR group, there were 47.5% eyelids with complete success, 46.7% underwent laser or electrolysis, 6.8% required further surgery, and 5.1% were unsuccessful. There was a higher statistical chance of complete success with LLR (P < 0.05). LLR is superior to ISLG surgery for the treatment of major trichiasis. There is a greater chance of success with LLR and it is technically simpler.