A comparison of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures and the Quickert procedure for involutional entropion

To provide evidence of statistically significant difference in the surgical outcome of the lateral tarsal strip with everting sutures (LTS + ES) versus the Quickert procedure (QP) in the treatment of involutional entropion.

In a prospective randomized comparative trial, 66 eyelids of 52 patients with primary involutional lower eyelid entropion were recruited. Thirty-six eyelids were randomized to QP, and 30 eyelids were randomized to LTS + ES. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon. Postoperative follow-up was scheduled after 2 weeks, 8 and 14 months. Successful surgery was defined as a normal eyelid position at rest and inability to induce entropion on forced eyelid closure at or before the 14-month follow-up visit.

A total of 66 eyelids of 52 patients were enrolled in the study. Three patients did not complete follow-up (1 did not attend the 8 months follow-up visit; 2 did not attend 14 months follow-up visit). Of the 63 patients, a single eyelid [success probability 0.97; confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1] in the QP group and two treated eyelids [success probability of 0.93; CI: 0.85-1] in the LTS + ES group had a recurrence of a lower eyelid entropion after 14 months. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical failure between the LTS + ES versus QP (Log-rank test: p = 0.46).

These data provide strong evidence that success rates at 14 months are similar in patients treated with either techniques (LTS + ES versus QP).