Repair of eyelid margin defects with diagonal tarsal suture technique

Evaluation of the results of diagonal suture technique in full-thickness eyelid margin repair in the early recovery period.

In this study, full-thickness eyelid margin repair cases using a diagonal suture technique between February 2016 and March 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases due to trauma were not included in the study. Patients were evaluated on the 1st, 6th and 30th day following surgery. The demographic information of the patients, the surgery performed, the level of the lid margin (normal healing, notching), and the presence of tissue reaction (edema, redness, tissue separation, abscess formation) were recorded.

Nine (47.4%) out of 19 patients were female and 10 (52.6%) were male. Their ages ranged from 56 to 83 (median: 66). Of the 19 surgeries performed, 14 were Quickert, 3 were pentagon excision, and 2 were Lazy-T. Edema was observed in 3 cases (15.8%) on the first day. Tissue reaction was not observed in any of the cases in neither the first week nor the first month. Although the lid margin healed properly in each case, notching was observed on the inner surface of the lid margin on the 1st and 6th postoperative days in 1 (5.3%) patient. During the 30th-day follow-up visit, it was observed that the notching had decreased.

The advantages of diagonal suture technique are having no sutures that may touch the cornea at the lid margin and resulting in a better cosmetic appearance in the early postoperative period. It is an easy, effective and reliable method to apply.