Clinical results of modified frontalis suspension technique using preserved fascia lata for congenital ptosis

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of modified frontalis suspension technique with preserved fascia lata and to analyze the results according to age and preoperative ptosis degree. Methods: This study involved a retrospective review of the electronic medical records of congenital ptosis patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral frontalis sling surgery using preserved fascia lata between March 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012. Results: Seventy-seven patients (99 eyes) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 6.2±6.7 years. Mean follow-up time was 5.4±3.2 years. Among 77 patients, 22 patients (28.5%) had a mild degree of ptosis, 39 (50.6%) had moderate, and 16 (20.7%) had a severe degree of ptosis. A satisfactory result (good and fair) was achieved in 65 of the 77 patients (84.4%) and a poor result was recorded in 12 patients (15.5%). Preoperative ptosis degree had no effect on the surgical success rate (19/22 [86.3%] in the mild group versus 34/39 [87.1%] in the moderate group versus 12/16 [75%] in the severe group, P = 0.243). There was no significant difference in surgical success rate between the unilateral and bilateral ptosis groups (45/55 [81.8%] versus 20/22 [90.9%], P = 0.479 respectively), between sexes (41/46 [89.1%] in male versus 24/31 [77.4%] in female, P = 0.271), or age groups (52/60 [86.6%] in younger group versus 13/17 [76.4%] in elder group, P = 0.526). Recurrence of ptosis did not differ according to the preoperative ptosis degree (3/22 [13.6%] in the mild group, 5/39 [12.8%] in the moderate group, and 2/16 [12.5%] in the severe group, P=0.994). Age also had no influence on the ptosis recurrence. The preoperative marginal reflex distance 1 of 0.41±1.06mm increased to 1.67±0.80mm postoperatively (P=0.000). Conclusions: The authors identified the long-term efficacy of preserved fascia lata in frontalis sling surgery with a modified frontalis suspension method for all age groups of patients. There was a small rate of recurrence (12.9%) over a maximum of 9 years of follow-up, which was corrected with additional surgery.