Silicone sling surgery for congenital ptosis: Tarsal tunnel technique

This was a prospective, interventional, comparative study conducted on patients with congenital simple severe ptosis. A novel method of silicone rod fixation to the tarsus (tarsal tunnel technique, group 1) was done compared with a conventional technique of silicone rod fixation (suture fixation technique, group 2) in frontalis suspension surgery. A total of 30 patients were randomized into two groups of 15 patients each. Postoperatively, MRD1, vertical palpebral aperture, and eyelid fold height were comparable in both groups till the last follow-up with stability in eyelid position. Patient satisfaction scores showed similar results with good-fair satisfaction grading in 13 patients in group 1 and 11 patients in group 2 at 6 months follow-up. No significant complications occurred in either group. Tarsal tunnel fixation of silicone rods is a novel method in sling surgery with optimal cosmetic and function outcomes. Further long-term studies are needed to validate the results of the technique.