Abstract

Background: Severe ptosis with poor lps function is corrected with a levator sling procedure, silicon rod being one of the material. Many materials are being used for the purpose; most commonly used being autogenous fascia lata but is difficult to harvest. Alternative materials are being tried to overcome the difficulty. Silicon rod is one of them.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term results of frontalis sling surgery using silicon rod in comparison with autogenous fascia lata in patients with congenital ptosis.

Materials and Methods: A Retrospective, nonrandomized ,comparative study was conducted on 64 eyes of 42 patients. Twenty-two patients (34 eyelids) underwent frontalis sling suspension using silicon rod, whereas 20 patients (30 eyelids) underwent frontalis suspension using autogenous fascia lata. Postoperative follow-up at 3 and 6 months and then at 1 year and 3 years was done to assess for median reflex distance (MRD), recurrence of ptosis, and cosmetic results.The two groups were compared with respect to age, preoperative MRD, preoperative amount of ptosis, and levator function using Mann–Whitney U test and independent t test. Postoperative MRD were also compared with independent t test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result: The mean age of the patients was 45.5 ± 11.56 months in silicon rod group (SRG) and 44.75 ± 11.38 months in fascia lata group (FLG). The mean follow-up was 38 ± 8.33 months in SRG and 37 ± 7.74 months in FLG. At the end of the follow-up, the recurrence rate was 17.6% in SRG and 20% in FLG.

Conclusion: The frontalis sling operation using silicon rod or autologous fascia lata show similar cosmetic results.

Key words: Frontalis sling, ptosis, fascia lata, silicon rod