Accidental lacrimal gland removal during resection of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle

ABSTRACT Accidental removal of the lacrimal gland is a rare complication of ptosis surgery. We report two children who underwent large unilateral levator palpebrae superioris resections (LPSr). After surgery, both patients developed dry eye. Post-operatively, the parents of both patients noticed no tears in the affected eye when their child cried. Computed tomography proved the absence of the lacrimal gland in the operated eye in both patients. Oculoplastic surgeons should pay close attention to the anatomy of the levator muscle and its proximity to surrounding tissues in order to avoid lesions on important orbital structures, including the lacrimal gland, and to avoid the development of long-term dry eye.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Akaishi,Patricia, Galindo-Ferreiro,Alicia, Elkhamary,Sahar M., Al-Sadah,Zakeya, Galvez-Ruiz,Alberto, Cruz,A. Augusto
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Conselho Brasileiro de Oftalmologia 2017
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-27492017000100015
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Summary:ABSTRACT Accidental removal of the lacrimal gland is a rare complication of ptosis surgery. We report two children who underwent large unilateral levator palpebrae superioris resections (LPSr). After surgery, both patients developed dry eye. Post-operatively, the parents of both patients noticed no tears in the affected eye when their child cried. Computed tomography proved the absence of the lacrimal gland in the operated eye in both patients. Oculoplastic surgeons should pay close attention to the anatomy of the levator muscle and its proximity to surrounding tissues in order to avoid lesions on important orbital structures, including the lacrimal gland, and to avoid the development of long-term dry eye.