The Use of Hard Palate Mucosal Graft Combined with Lateral Canthus Suspension for Ocular Prosthesis Stability

Different surgical approaches exist for lower eyelid reconstruction. The hard palate mucosa graft stands out due to its abundance, accessibility, good tolerance, and ability to yield long-term stable results in eyelid elevation. This case report details the successful full-thickness reconstruction of the lower eyelid in an anophthalmic patient using a palatal mucosal graft, complemented by orbicularis muscle suspension. The patient presented with severe lower eyelid retraction state and instability of the ocular prosthesis. After a thorough assessment, the decision was made to address the mucosal defect using a split-thickness palatal mucosal graft, supplemented by lateral canthus suspension. Postoperatively, there were no complications, and the cosmetic result was excellent. With our method, we were able to obtain a functional and cosmetically good result of lower eyelid reconstruction in an anophthalmic socket.