[Frontalis suspension with polytetrafluorethylene for the treatment of blepharoptosis].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the functional results and complications of the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in frontalis suspension surgery for the treatment of blepharoptosis.

METHODS

Frontalis suspension procedure with polytetrafluoroethylene was performed between 2003 and 2007 on 23 patients (36 eyes) with blepharoptosis. An average follow-up time was 15.8 months (range, 3 to 36). Surgical technique used was described by Fox.

RESULTS

The causes of blepharoptosis found were: congenital in 20 patients (86.95%), blepharophimosis in 2 (8.69%) and traumatic in 1 (4.35%). At the first week of postoperatory 6 (26.08%) patients related palpebral asymmetry, 4 (17.39%) noticed local edema, 3 (13.04%) presented granulomas and 1 (4.35%) presented facial cellulitis on the ipsilateral frontal region. After 3 months of follow-up 3 (13.04%) patients related palpebral asymmetry and 1 (4.35%) persisted the granuloma.

CONCLUSIONS

Polytetrafluoroethylene - Model CV3, 6.0 (Gore-tex(R), W.L. Gore & Associates Inc, Flagstaff, AZ, EUA) is an adequate material with good functional results (86.9%), relatively few complications (4.35%) and insatisfaction (13.4%) that could be an alternative for fascia lata in the surgery of frontalis suspension for the treatment of blepharoptosis.