What Is Lid Laceration?
A laceration of the eyelid can occur as a result of trauma. The most important part of the evaluation of a patient who presents with a lid laceration is to determine if there’s involvement of the tear drainage system. If the laceration involves the tear drainage system of the eyelid, then this must be repaired at the same time as the eyelid laceration.
The other important aspect of a patient who presents with a lid laceration is to have a complete ocular evaluation to rule out any ocular problems as a result of the trauma.
Typically these patients are referred by emergency rooms, walk-in clinics, or other physicians.
What Causes Lid Laceration?
Most of the causes of lid laceration are from blunt trauma. This can be secondary to sporting events, motor vehicle accidents, or dog bites.
At times, it is difficult to fully assess the amount of damage to the lid laceration, particularly in the pediatric population, and in these patients, an examination under anesthesia is necessary to determine the full extent of the damage from the trauma.
What Is the Treatment for Lid Laceration?
The treatment for lid laceration is surgical. This is typically done at an outpatient surgical center. It is very important to determine if there’s any damage to the tear drainage system of the eye. This is repaired concurrently with the lid laceration, often with placement of a silicone tube to allow healing of the tearing draining system. Typically, these silicone stents are left in place for six to eight weeks following the repair of the lid laceration.
At the time of the repair, while the patient is under IV sedation, full assessment of the eyelid can be made. This is particularly important in patients who are in pain and patients who are unable to have a full assessment in the office, particularly with the pediatric population.
What Type of Anesthesia Is Used for Lid Laceration Repair?
IV sedation (MAC anesthesia) is the anesthesia of choice for repair of lid lacerations, and this is performed on an outpatient basis. MAC anesthesia is a procedure where the anesthesia team administers small increments of a sedative to allow the patient to be in a relaxed state. Following the initiation of the MAC anesthesia, local anesthetic is administered for the patient’s comfort. Patients find this to be a pain-free procedure.
What Is the Recovery Following Lid Laceration Repair?
During the post-operative period following the discharge from the outpatient surgical center, the patient is asked to apply a topical antibiotic ointment for the first week. Antibiotics by mouth are typically prescribed as well.
Sutures are removed at approximately seven to 10 days. The patient is asked to apply ice compresses for the first one to two days following the repair of the lid lacerations. Post-operative evaluations will occur at increments over the first six to eight weeks at the Mack Center.
Typically, at the point of six to eight weeks following the repair, the silicone stent can be removed. Patients are also asked to follow up with their eye care provider as recommended.
What Can a Patient Expect Following Surgical Correction of Lid Laceration?
Following surgical correction of the lid lacerations, the patient will notice swelling. Often times, there is quite a bit of swelling from the initial trauma. The swelling will typically improve over the first week or two, although full swelling of the eyelid may take months to completely improve.
The goal of the surgical repair is to have the lid in the correct anatomic position with no evidence of eyelashes rubbing against the eye. The patient should be able to blink completely, as the eyelids provide a protective mechanism for the eye. The repair of the tear drainage system will allow the patient to avoid any tearing post-operatively.
Before
After
For more information on Tampa Lid Lacerations procedures, contact Dr. Mack’s office to schedule a consultation today.
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