Eyelid reconstruction with hard palate mucosa grafts.

Hard palate mucosa grafts are an excellent replacement for tarsus and conjunctiva in eyelid reconstruction. Twenty-five eyelids from 18 patients underwent eyelid reconstruction using hard palate mucosa grafts. Patients were treated for a variety of disorders including postblepharoplasty lower eyelid retraction, cicatricial entropion, eyelid retraction secondary to thyroid eye disease, and lagophthalmos following surgery for paralytic ptosis. Surgical results were evaluated, grafts were measured for postoperative shrinkage, and donor site healing was recorded. Several patients had hard palate biopsy specimens evaluated. One of these patients also had a graft biopsied after it had been in place for 3 months. A review of hard palate anatomy and histology and a discussion of surgical technique are presented.     

Transplantate vom harten Gaumen

Background

Mucosal grafts from the hard palate for reconstruction of the posterior lamella of the upper eyelid were compared for three different indications. The plastic reconstruction of the upper eyelid was carried out in patients with symblepharon and upper eyelid entropion following an autoimmune disease, in patients with subtotal or total upper eyelid resection due to a neoplasm and in patients with mucous membrane trauma using autogenous mucosal grafts from the hard palate.

Patients

In this retrospective comparative interventional case series 23 eyes from 19 patients were included in whom upper eyelid reconstruction was undertaken at the University Eye Hospital in Salzburg between 2001 and 2012. Reconstruction with hard palate grafts was performed in 5 eyes following extensive tumor resection, in 5 eyes of 3 patients after autoimmune diseases and in 13 eyes of 11 patients following trauma rehabilitation.

Results

In the total collective of patients who underwent upper eyelid reconstruction with hard palate grafts, no graft rejection or loss of graft occurred. Hard palate grafts are useful for reconstruction after tumor surgery in addition to other techniques in order to achieve good functional and esthetic results. For patients suffering from autoimmune disease (e.g. ocular pemphigus and Stevens-Johnson syndrome) the use of hard palate grafts was found to be equally useful, although results can possibly deteriorate over time due to the underlying disease. Hard palate grafts were shown to be very useful in reconstruction of the upper eyelid for correction of entropium due to symblepharon and distichiasis following thermal and chemical burns.

Conclusion

Hard palate grafts are suitable as mucosal grafts replacing conjunctiva in systemic disease and are equally effective in the treatment of traumatic upper eyelid defects – such as defects after tumor surgery.     

Hard palate mucosal grafts in the treatment of the contracted socket.

PURPOSE: The treatment of the traumatic contracted anophthalmic socket is challenging. The ability to wear an ocular prosthesis may require multiple operations to replace orbital volume, mucosa, or both. Hard palate mucosal grafts are a logical choice to augment mucosa and volume in the reconstruction of a contracted socket. METHODS: Ten patients with severely contracted sockets underwent socket reconstruction using hard palate mucosal grafts. The mucosal surface lining the contracted sockets was undermined and recessed toward the lid margins. Hard palate mucosal grafts that were harvested freehand and by using a radiofrequency instrument were placed in the socket fundus and sutured to the recessed mucosal edges. Forniceal sutures were placed full thickness through the lids, and custom conformers were placed in the sockets. In six patients, fixation sutures were passed through the conformer, fornices, and full thickness through the lid. In four patients, temporary tarsorrhaphies were placed for a minimum of 4 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Postoperatively, 8 of the 10 patients were able to wear an ocular prosthesis comfortably. Cosmesis was acceptable. Two patients had recurrent socket contracture and were unable to wear a prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Hard palate mucosal grafts are a useful option in the surgical rehabilitation of contracted sockets. A mucosal surface, resistance to contracture, ease of harvesting, and ability for additional harvesting are advantages over other graft materials.     

Socket reconstruction with combined mucous membrane and hard palate mucosal grafts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of combined mucous membrane and hard palate mucosal grafts in the reconstruction of contracted eye socket. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen eyes of 13 patients with contracted sockets underwent socket reconstructive surgery with combined mucosal membrane and hard palate mucosal grafts. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 33 months. Five of 13 patients required additional surgery after initial socket reconstruction. However, all patients who underwent socket reconstruction with hard palate mucosal grafts were able to wear a cosmetically acceptable ocular prosthesis postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Combined mucosal membrane and hard palate mucosal grafts can be effectively used in the reconstruction of contracted sockets.     

表浅肌肉腱膜皮瓣联合硬腭黏膜移植修复全层眼睑缺损

目的探讨利用眼周表浅肌肉腱膜系统（SMAS）皮瓣联合硬腭黏膜移植修复中、重度全层眼睑缺损的临床疗效。方法对26例（26只眼）大于或等于眼睑全长1／2的全层眼睑缺损患者,采用硬腭黏膜移植替代眼睑后层,即睑板和睑结膜层;利用眼周血供丰富的SMAS皮瓣修复眼睑前层,即皮肤肌肉层。其中5例采用眼轮匝肌蒂皮瓣,5例为颞浅动脉皮瓣,7例为眉上皮瓣,9例为上睑皮肤轮匝肌双蒂瓣。手术操作中首先行硬腭黏膜移植,然后根据眼睑前层缺损的部位和范围设计眼周的SMAS转位皮瓣,术毕行睑缘缝合3个月。结果全部患者随访6～36个月,平均11个月。转位皮瓣全部成活,硬腭黏膜植片成活好,无收缩,眼睑外观及功能改善较满意。结论眼周SMAS皮瓣联合硬腭黏膜移植可一次性修复缺损的眼睑全层,效果肯定。     

Correction of lower eyelid retraction with hard palate graft in the anophthalmic socket

Objective

Lower eyelid retraction is a common and challenging complication of the anophthalmic socket. The underlying pathophysiology includes contraction of the posterior lamellae of the eyelid, shortening of the inferior fornix, and lateral canthal tendon laxity. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical efficacy of hard palate mucosa as a posterior spacer graft in the lower eyelid retraction repair in the anophthalmic socket.

Graft contraction: a comparison of acellular dermis versus hard palate mucosa in lower eyelid surgery

PURPOSE: To compare graft contraction rates of acellular dermis versus hard palate mucosa when used as free spacer grafts in lower eyelid surgery and to provide clinical outcome data. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial involving the placement of 19 spacer grafts in the lower eyelids of 14 patients was performed. Indications for spacer graft placement included lower eyelid retraction and mildly contracted socket. Patients with lower eyelid retraction also underwent an endoscopic subperiosteal midface lift. For all procedures, the height of each graft was measured during and after surgery. The amount of contraction was measured for each graft, and a mean was calculated for each spacer material. The clinical success was evaluated for all procedures, based on improvement of the functional concern being addressed. RESULTS: The mean graft contraction rate was 57% for the acellular dermis and 16% for the hard palate mucosal grafts (P <0.005). Of the 7 procedures using acellular dermis for lower eyelid retraction, 6 were considered a success, and 1 was considered a partial success. Of the 6 procedures using hard palate for lower eyelid retraction, 5 were considered a success, and 1 was considered a failure unrelated to the graft. Of the 5 procedures with acellular dermis used for mildly contracted socket, 2 were considered a success, 2 were considered a partial success, and 1 was considered a failure because of graft contraction. The one case using hard palate for mildly contracted socket was considered a success. CONCLUSIONS: Acellular dermis contracts significantly more than hard palate mucosa when used as a lower eyelid spacer graft. Acellular dermis and hard palate mucosa were both associated with a high rate of clinical success in all categories except for patients with a mildly contracted socket who received acellular dermis; more than 60% of these patients (n=5) had only partial success or failure caused by graft contraction.     

Eyelid mucous membrane grafts: a histologic study of hard palate, nasal turbinate, and buccal mucosal grafts

PURPOSE: To histologically evaluate the outcome of mucous membrane grafts to the eyelid. METHODS: Case series of 31 eyes from 24 patients who underwent transplantation of hard palate (25 eyes), buccal (1 eye), or nasal turbinate (5 eyes) mucosa to the posterior eyelid surface. These grafts were biopsied at 0.5 months to 84 months (mean, 20 months) postoperatively. They were examined with light microscopy and compared with either the donor mucosa from the same patient (2 patients) or the typical donor site histology (22 patients). RESULTS: Graft biopsies revealed general epithelial morphology that was quite similar to the respective donor sites in virtually all cases. Six (25%) of 24 hard palate graft biopsies, which were obtained at 8 months to 49 months (mean, 22 months) postoperatively, displayed orthokeratosis alternating with parakeratosis, while 12 (50%) demonstrated parakeratosis alone, and another 6 (25%) showed adjacent regions of parakeratotic and nonkeratinized epithelium. No hard palate grafts showed complete absence of keratinization after transplantation. Other significant findings included loss of goblet cells in nasal turbinate grafts and few submucosal glands remaining in any specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Full-thickness mucosal grafts typically maintain their native epithelial morphology following transplantation to the ocular surface. Submucosal glands usually do not survive transplantation, which could be the result of intentional thinning of the graft at the time of transplantation. Contrary to the opinion that hard palate graft epithelium usually undergoes metaplasia from keratinized to nonkeratinized within 6 months following transplantation to the eye, all hard palate grafts in this study remained orthokeratotic and/or parakeratotic.     

Treatment of lower eyelid retraction by retractor release and posterior lamellar grafting: an analysis of 659 eyelids in 400 patients

PURPOSE: To review one surgeon's experience with posterior lamellar grafting for lower eyelid elevation over a 15-year period, comparing the success of different posterior lamellar grafts used in 4 etiology groups. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 400 patients (659 eyelids) was conducted. Patients were grouped into thyroid ophthalmopathy, previous surgery, trauma, and idiopathic causes. Three graft types were used: hard palate mucosa, free tarsoconjunctival, and free scleral. Objective measurements of lagophthalmos, scleral show, and superficial punctate keratopathy, and subjective patient symptoms, preoperatively and postoperatively were compared between graft types and etiologic groups. Complications were tabulated and compared between groups, as was any need for further surgery. The mean follow-up interval was 16.5 months. The main outcome measures were objective measurements of lagophthalmos, scleral show, and superficial punctate keratopathy. RESULTS: A mean reduction in lagophthalmos ( approximately 0.5 mm), superficial punctate keratopathy (mean score reduction = 0.2, on a scale of 1-3), and scleral show ( approximately 1.3 mm) was demonstrated for all etiology groups and graft types. Furthermore, 90% of patients subjectively reported a reduction of 1 to 3 symptoms. Hard palate mucosa grafts were more likely to be used than tarsoconjunctival grafts in cases with one or more previous surgeries (p < 0.001). Complications were more common with tarsoconjunctival grafts (except for bleeding), but the difference was statistically significant only for wound dehiscence (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Lower eyelid retraction repair with posterior lamellar grafting and lateral eyelid tightening can be recommended with confidence for eyelid retraction patients because most improved subjectively and by objective examination.     

Cicatricial entropion repair with hard palate mucous membrane graft: surgical technique and outcomes

Background:  The use of a hard palate mucous membrane graft (HPMMG) has been previously described for upper and lower eyelid cicatricial entropion repair. The objective of this paper is to review the surgical technique and postoperative complications in a large series of patient who underwent hard palate grafting for the management of cicatricial entropion.
Methods:  The medical records of 107 patients representing 147 eyelids undergoing surgical management of cicatricial entropion with HPMMG were reviewed. The surgical technique is described.
Results:  147 eyelid operations (74 upper, 73 lower) were performed on 107 patients (46 male, 61 female), with a mean age of 63 years (range 12–87). The aetiology of the cicatricial entropion included idiopathic (41%), trauma (5.6%), chronic blepharitis (16.8%), chemical injury (3.7%), ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (8.4%), trachoma (7.5%) and other (16.8%). Patients were followed postoperatively for an average of 21 months (range 6–120). Ninety-four per cent of patients noted symptomatic improvement. The postoperative complications included excess keratin (29%), recurrence of cicatricial entropion (4.1%), punctuate epithelial erosion (2.7%), graft shrinkage (0.7%) and donor site bleeding (2.0%).
Conclusions:  Cicatricial Entropion with hard palate mucous membrane grafting for both upper and lower eyelid surgery offers high symptomatic and anatomical cure rates. The requirement for further surgical intervention is low.     

硬腭黏膜移植联合眶周表浅肌肉腱膜系统皮瓣重建全层眼睑缺损

目的:探讨利用自体游离硬腭黏膜植片替代后睑组织联合眶周表浅肌肉腱膜系统(SMAS)皮瓣转移修复缺损的前层眼睑皮肤,重建因肿瘤术后或外伤所致的全层眼睑缺损的临床疗效。方法:对16例≥眼睑全长1/2中重度全层眼睑缺损患者,全部用口腔硬腭黏膜植片替代睑板和结膜,再造后层眼睑;用眶周血供丰富的表浅肌肉腱膜系统(SMAS)皮瓣转移覆盖于硬腭黏膜上,替代缺损的眼睑皮肤肌肉层再造前层眼睑,其中10例采用眼轮匝肌单蒂皮瓣,3例为颞浅动脉皮瓣,2例为上睑皮肤轮匝肌双蒂皮瓣,1例为眉上皮瓣。手术操作中首先行硬腭黏膜移植,然后根据眼睑前层缺损的部位和范围设计眶周的SMAS转移皮瓣,手术完毕行睑缘缝合3～6mo后切开。结果:全部患者随访>12mo,硬腭黏膜植片及其转移皮瓣全部成活,无移位、感染和坏死等不良反应,无收缩,眼睑外观及功能改善满意。结论:硬腭黏膜联合SMAS皮瓣转移修复重建眼睑全层缺损,可以一次性修复眼睑缺损的皮肤、睑板、结膜,疗效肯定,具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Reconstruction of the irradiated contracted socket with an expanded superficial temporalis fascial flap.

PURPOSE: To describe the reconstruction of an irradiated contracted socket with an expanded superficial temporalis fascial flap and oral mucosa. METHODS: A superficial temporalis fascial flap was first expanded with tissue expansion techniques and then rotated into the orbit to revascularize the socket. The mucosal surface of the socket was secondarily grafted with buccal and hard palate mucosa. RESULTS: The expanded superficial temporalis fascial flap was used to revascularize the socket for grafting with hard palate and buccal mucosa. This resulted in the successful retention of an ocular prosthesis. CONCLUSION: The expanded superficial temporalis fascial flap is a useful technique in reconstruction of the contracted socket.     

Oral mucosa grafting in periorbital reconstruction

To provide an extensive literature review on the clinical indications of oral mucosa grafts (OMG) and minor salivary gland grafts (MSGG) in periorbital reconstruction together with safe practice graft harvesting techniques to minimize donor-site morbidity. A literature review was performed by searching the databases of PUBMED, EMBASE, and COCHRANE library using the keywords: minor salivary glands; oral mucosal graft; orbit; and eye. The bibliographies of the pertinent articles were examined for additional papers. Indications for OMG include treatment of recurrent pterygia; socket contracture in anophthalmic patients; repair of eyelid deformities; ocular surface and fornix reconstruction following tumour resection, cicatricial ocular surface disorders, or chemical burns. More novel uses include repair of glaucoma aqueous drainage device erosions or leaking trabeculectomy blebs; scleral buckle exposure; and keratoprosthesis-related corneal melts as well as lining the dacryocystorhinostomy tract to prevent closure. Simultaneous MSGG transplantation may be used in the treatment of severe dry eyes or dry anophthalmic cavities. Harvesting from the inner cheek is preferred to lower lip as it causes less post-operative discomfort and neurosensory deficits. Suturing is recommended for smaller ovoid grafts as it allows less painful closure without tension, while larger rectangular defects are best left to heal by secondary intention. OMG and MSGG transplantation is a viable alternative to replace conjunctiva and restore the ocular surface. The donor site is readily accessible and widely available in most patients, grafting is fast and cheap, and the same site may undergo repeated harvesting with few donor site complications.     

眼睑恶性肿瘤切除术后中重度眼睑缺损的Ⅰ期修复

目的:探讨眼睑恶性肿瘤切除术后中重度眼睑缺损I期修复的手术方法和疗效。方法:2010-01/2011-10对11例11眼患者行眼睑恶性肿瘤切除术后,利用硬腭黏膜移植联合眼周皮瓣或游离皮瓣修复眼睑全层缺损行眼睑再造术。其中男3例,女8例,年龄38～77岁,眼睑全部缺损4例,1/2～2/3眼睑缺损7例。眼睑基底细胞癌6例,睑板腺癌4例,眼睑鳞状细胞癌1例。结果:术后眼睑外观及功能恢复满意,随诊6～24mo无1例肿瘤复发。结论:硬腭黏膜移植联合眼周皮瓣或游离皮瓣修复眼睑恶性肿瘤切除术后中重度眼睑全层缺损,在眼睑外形和功能上可获得满意的效果,疗效肯定,具有较高的临床价值。     

自体硬腭黏膜移植联合眶周皮瓣修复全层眼睑缺损

目的：评价眼睑恶性肿瘤切除术后采用自体硬腭黏膜移植联合眶周皮瓣进行眼睑再造的临床效果。 方法：患者10例10眼行眼睑恶性肿瘤切除术后重度眼睑缺损,采用硬腭黏膜移植替代眼睑后层,即睑板和睑结膜层,利用眶周皮瓣修复眼睑前层。 结果：术后随访6~12mo,眼睑外观及功能基本恢复正常。硬腭黏膜移植片及转移皮瓣全部成活,无感染、移位、挛缩。 结论：自体硬腭黏膜移植联合眶周皮瓣转移修复全层眼睑缺损,效果肯定。     

Autogenous hard palate mucosa: the ideal lower eyelid spacer?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Raising a displaced lower eyelid frequently involves recession of the lower eyelid retractors with interposition of a "spacer," and several materials for this purpose have been described. This study reviewed the results of autogenous palatal mucosa in the treatment of lower eyelid displacement, including assessment of any donor site morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective case note review of consecutive patients treated at Moorfields Eye Hospital between 1993 and 1998. All patients underwent insertion of hard palate mucosa between the inferior border of the tarsus and the recessed conjunctiva and lower eyelid retractors. Parameters studied included the underlying diagnosis, measurements of lower lid displacement or retraction, related previous surgery, the experience of the operating surgeon, intraoperative and postoperative complications, surgical outcome, and length of follow up. The main outcome measure was the position of the lower eyelid relative to the globe in primary position of gaze. RESULTS: 102 lower eyelids of 68 patients were included and a satisfactory lid position was achieved in 87/102 (85%), with inadequate lengthening or significant recurrence of displacement occurring in 15 cases. Donor site haemorrhage requiring treatment in the early postoperative period occurred in seven patients (10%). CONCLUSION: Autogenous hard palate mucosa is an effective eyelid spacer and provides good long term support for the lower eyelid. Donor site complications are the main disadvantage, but may be minimised by attention to meticulous surgical technique and appropriate postoperative management.     

The arm as a skin graft donor site in eyelid reconstruction.

PURPOSE: To report the technique, success, and complications of using the arm as a donor site for full-thickness skin grafts used in eyelid and facial reconstruction. METHODS: The charts of 42 patients were reviewed. The arm was used as a donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts in 52 procedures of eyelid or facial reconstruction. RESULTS: The size of skin grafts varied from 4.0 cm2 to 59.5 cm2. There were few recipient site complications: partial necrosis (n=2), severe contraction (n=2), and hair growth (n=4). Donor site complications included wound dehiscence (n=2) and hypertrophic scarring (n=2). CONCLUSIONS: The arm is an acceptable donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts for use in eyelid and facial reconstruction when either traditional donor sites are unavailable or a large amount of skin is needed.     

Maximal eyelid donor skin harvesting in eyelid repair after tumor excision

PURPOSE: A primary defect in the eyelid resulting from tumor excision will benefit from better skin match when the defect is repaired with eyelid skin. The amount of skin harvested by blepharoplasty from a single upper eyelid may be inadequate. This report describes and evaluates the effectiveness of two types of procedure in which maximal eyelid skin is harvested to repair defects in the upper or lower eyelids, respectively. The techniques require the resulting secondary defect being partially replaced by a second graft taken from the contralateral upper eyelid. METHODS: The surgical results of a prospective case series are evaluated. Postoperative upper eyelid graft appearance and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent repair of a large skin defect in the upper eyelid (2 patients) or lower eyelid (8 patients), using maximum upper eyelid skin from above the skin crease. The primary donor site upper eyelid defect was closed after partial secondary grafting with skin from the side contralateral to the upper eyelid from which the maximal graft was taken. All patients were satisfied with the appearance of the grafted and donor areas. CONCLUSIONS: Maximal eyelid donor skin harvesting achieved satisfactory results and is a useful technique in eyelid reconstructive surgery.     

Posterior lamellar eyelid reconstruction with a hard palate mucosal graft

A graft of hard palate mucosa is a satisfactory substitute for the posterior lamella of tarsus and conjunctiva in eyelid reconstruction. The graft may be harvested after administration of local anesthesia in adults, provides structural support as well as a mucosal surface, and contracts minimally. The palatal donor site heals with a minimum of postoperative care. Results in four eyelids with severe cicatricial entropion were satisfactory. The only observed complication was apparent partial keratinization of one graft in a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome.     

Donor site morbidity in free tarsal grafts

PURPOSE: To determine if harvesting free tarsal grafts from the upper eyelids is associated with significant morbidity. DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: Consecutive patients managed with free tarsal grafts by three of the authors (D.S., D.G., R.G.) over a 4-year period. RESULTS: Ninety-one eyelids in 75 patients were operated on using the free tarsal graft for various eyelid pathologies. Mean follow-up period was 14.83 +/- 8.45 months (range, 4 to 42 months). Contour peaking in donor upper eyelid appeared in two eyelids (2.2%), lash ptosis in four eyelids (4.4%) of three patients, and donor site infection in one eyelid (1.1%). Four patients (5.3%) complained of a transient ocular discomfort. There were no cases of postoperative changes on the eyelid height, entropion, or keratopathy in the donor site eye. Most of the donor site complications were mild or transient and required no further surgery. In three patients who underwent subsequent surgery to treat preexisting ptosis or retraction of the donor eyelid, the results were less predictable and further procedures were required. CONCLUSION: Free tarsal grafts harvested from the upper eyelids, with preservation of at least 4 mm of the tarsal plate inferiorly, do not lead to significant donor site morbidity. However, subsequent procedures to alter the position of the donor eyelid may be less predictable.