Therapeutic effects of two anastomoses of lacrimal passage on canalicular laceration

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of two anastomoses (canaliculus-to-lacrimal sac anastomosis and end-to-end anastomosis) on nasolacrimal laceration for over 7 mm from the broken end to the dacryon. Methods: A total of 71 patients (44 males and 27 females, aged 16-55 years, mean=34.32 years) with fresh canalicular laceration were treated in our hospital from March 2003 to April 2008. Under a microscope, 37 patients were treated with lacrimal sac anastomosis (the treatment group) and 34 with end-to-end anastomosis (the control group), detaining silicone tubes till 3 months later. Results: The cure rate of the treatment group (89.19%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (55.56%). Class I cure rates were 70.27% in the treatment group and 47.06 % in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). Postoperative in-flammatory reactions had significant influences on the two kinds of anastomosing methods, but no significant difference was found between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions- When the distance from the broken end to the dacryon is over 7 mm, especially when it is necessary to find the paranasal broken end of the lacrimal canaliculus with dacryocystotomy, canaliculus-to-lacrimal sac anasto-mosis is a better treatment method than end-to-end anasto-mosis for laceration of lacrimal canaliculus.