Outcomes of combined procedures compared to various single techniques for involutional entropion

BACKGROUND: To describe the outcomes of triangular tarsectomy and limited orbicularis myectomy with lower eyelid retractor plication compared to an everting sutures (ES) technique or lateral tarsal strip (LTS) procedure for the correction of lower eyelid involutional entropion.

METHODS: A nonrandomized clinical study was carried out at two tertiary eye hospitals between January 2016 and December 2019. Patients in Group A underwent triangular tarsectomy and limited orbicularis myectomy with lower eyelid retractor plication. Group B had ES, and Group C underwent a LTS procedure. All participants were operated by one surgeon and underwent 1-year follow-up.

RESULTS: A total of 78 patients in whom 84 eyelids were affected by lower eyelid involutional entropion were included in the study. The success rate was higher in Group A compared to Group B and Group C (100% vs. 86.7% vs. 95.8%; P < 0.05). Recurrence at a 1-year follow-up was noted in only four (13.3%) eyelids in Group B and one (4.2%) in Group C. However, patient's in Group C experienced a higher frequency of minimal postoperative complications, including short-term pain (100%), tenderness on the lateral canthal area (100%), tightness of the eyelid (91.7%), and ecchymosis (54.2%) compared to Group A. Patients of Group B experienced minimal or no postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Triangular tarsectomy and limited orbicularis myectomy with eyelid retractor plication may be considered the standard procedure for correcting lower eyelid involutional entropion with no recurrence compared to LTS technique or minimally invasive and cost-effective ES procedure.