Hübner's eyelid reconstruction using a free tarsomarginal autograft in eight dogs. A retrospective study

The aim of our work was to study the potential of tarsomarginal grafting technique, in canine.

All dogs included in this study had tumors of the upper or lower eyelid. Furthermore, resection of the tumor necessitated excision of the eyelid margin comprising 1/4 and 2/3.

Harvesting of the graft with the length of half the length of the tumor, including its free margins was performed via a full-thickness incision on the ipsilateral healthy eyelid. The cutaneous layer and all of the muscle fibers of the transplant were meticulously removed except a 3 mm strip along the free lid margin. A full-thickness tumor excision was then performed. The graft was sutured at the level of the defect to be reconstructed. A sliding H flap was generated. The resulting nourishing myocutaneous flap was then sutured along the free margin of the tarso-conjunctivo-marginal graft. The lateral edges of the advancement flap were sutured to the edges of the receiving sites.

The average size of the reconstructed area was 17.8 mm. The resulting stretched lid fissure length after surgery was shortened over 7 to 11 mm. This technique for grafting was used to reconstruct an eyelid that had lost tissue measuring between 1/4 and 2/3 of its length. The few complications that were encountered were mainly the occurrence of keratitis or suture dehiscence.

This tarsomarginal grafting technique has yielded encouraging results in dogs. This technique can fill large lid defects with a physiologic lid margin but is shortening the stretched lid fissure length.