Traumatic Ptosis: Evaluation of Etiology, Management and Prognosis

To investigate whether a systematic approach to subgrouping traumatic ptosis according to etiology can allow for better tailoring of prognosis and treatment.

Retrospective chart review of patients with trauma-related blepharoptosis managed by Oculoplastic surgery specialists at an academic medical center from January 1995 to November 2015. Injury mechanism, eyelid position and function, interventions, and outcomes were reviewed.

Of 648 patients treated for blepharoptosis, 55 (8.5%) were traumatic. Careful review revealed 4 subcategories of traumatic ptosis cases: aponeurotic (n = 16), myogenic (n = 18), neurogenic (n = 7), and mechanical (n = 14). Margin reflex distance (MRD1) at presentation was significantly worse for the myogenic subtype (-0.59 mm, SD ±2.09, P = 0.046). The aponeurotic subtype had the best average levator function at presentation (14.29 mm, SD ±2.05), while myogenic had the worst (8.41 mm, SD ±4.94) (P = 0.004). Thirty-five (63.6%) patients were managed surgically. Final MRD1 was significantly different for each subtype (P = 0.163), with aponeurotic 2.63 mm (SD ±1.01), myogenic 1.29 mm (SD ±2.24), neurogenic 1.79 mm (SD ±2.48), and mechanical 2.31 mm (SD ±1.18). There was a significant increase in MRD1 from presentation to final follow up across all groups (P < 0.05).

Traumatic ptosis is heterogenous. Systematically evaluating traumatic ptosis cases by trauma mechanism can guide decisions about prognosis and management. Two-thirds of cases were treated surgically, with most patients responding well to conjunctiva-Müller resection or external levator advancement. While all subgroups demonstrated improvement in MRD1 at final follow up, aponeurotic cases had the best prognosis, while myogenic fared the worst and required the longest for maximal recovery.