Minimal Dissection Direct Frontalis Muscle Advancement Flap for Congenital Ptosis Repair

Frontalis flap advancement is an alternative means of congenital ptosis repair from frontalis suspension utilizing autologous fascia or allogenic implants. Variations in technique, including flap division, location and number of skin incisions, and dissection planes, are described in the literature.

A retrospective case series of patients with congenital myogenic ptosis treated with simplified, minimal dissection frontalis flap advancement involving a single upper eyelid crease incision with dissection in the preseptal and subcutaneous planes without division to mobilize the frontalis flap. Inclusion criteria: pediatric patients age < 18 years with either primary or recurrent congenital ptosis following previous surgical repair. Exclusion criteria: ptosis of neurogenic etiology or postoperative follow-up < 3 months. Primary outcome measures were postoperative margin-reflex distance 1 (MRD1), the difference in MRD1 between surgical and nonsurgical eyelids in unilateral ptosis, and lagophthalmos. Secondary outcome measures included recurrence and complications.

Twenty-six patients met inclusion criteria, 24 males and 2 females. Mean postoperative MRD1 at last follow-up was 2.9 ± 1.2 mm and the mean difference in MRD1 between surgical and nonsurgical eyelids at last follow-up was 1.1 ± 1.0 mm. Average lagophthalmos at postoperative month 2 to 5 was 0.6 ± 0.7 mm. One patient demonstrated postoperative lid retraction that required re-operation. Four of 31 eyelids (12.9%) demonstrated ptosis recurrence at 5, 12, or 24 months.

In this retrospective series, the authors report clinically and statistically significant surgical eyelid height improvement and symmetry between nonsurgical and surgical eyelids in congenital ptosis patients treated with minimal dissection direct frontalis flap advancement.