[Prevalence of Bell's phenomenon and changes after surgery for aponeurotic ptosis]

Ptosis surgery is common in oculoplastics, and its most threatening complication is corneal ulceration. Several factors have been associated with postoperative corneal disorders, such as the strength of the orbicularis muscle, the type of surgery performed, and the Bell's phenomenon reflex (BPR). The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of physiological BPR, absence of BPR, and presence of inverse BP in patients undergoing surgery for aponeurotic ptosis. The changes in the BPR during the postoperative course as well as the occurrence of corneal complications were also studied.

A retrospective study was conducted at the University Hospital of Nice from January 2018 to December 2023. Patients operated on for aponeurotic ptosis were included. Patients with myogenic or neurogenic ptosis or with missing data were excluded. Data were recorded preoperatively and one month postoperatively and included: eyelid height, orbicularis muscle strength, prevalence of BPR, lack of BPR, inverse BPR, and postoperative corneal ulcer.

Ninety-eight eyelids of 57 patients were included over the study period. Preoperatively, the prevalence of physiological BPR, no BPR, and inverse BPR were 71.4%, 18.4%, and 10.2%, respectively. At one month postoperatively, 30.6% of patients experienced a change in BPR (p=0.004). The postoperative prevalence of BPR, no BPR, and inverse BPR were 77.5%, 17.4%, and 5.1%, respectively. The rate of postoperative corneal ulcers was 1.02%.

Among patients operated on for aponeurotic ptosis, the prevalence of physiological BPR was 71.4% preoperatively. Approximately one-third of patients experienced a change in BPR one month postoperatively with a postoperative physiological BPR prevalence of 77.5%. The rate of corneal complications was low.