Autogenous versus allograft fascia lata in frontal sling surgery --long-term results.

PURPOSE: Either autogenous or allograft fascia lata frontal sling procedures can be used for the treatment of severe ptosis. We retrospectively evaluated the late outcomes of both approaches.

METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent frontal sling ptosis surgery between 1978 and 2000, with a follow-up of one year or more were included in the study. Success rates and the complications of the surgery for autogenous and allograft fascia lata were recorded. The results were compared statistically.

RESULTS: Surgeries were performed with 82 autogenous or 43 allograft fascia lata. At last follow-up there were 71 eyes (86.6%) with good, 8 eyes (9.7%) with moderate, 3 eyes (3.7%) with poor results after autogenous fascia lata and 35 (81.4%), 3 (7%) and 5 (11.6%) after the allograft fascia lata frontal sling procedure. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Repeat surgery was carried out on three patients after autogenous and five after allograft fascia lata surgery. Two cases of preseptal cellulitis were observed, one abscess after autogenous and one lagophthalmus after allograft fascia lata sling surgery. All patients had slight edema early after surgery which resolved in a few days. Only one patient developed a hematoma at the site of the leg incision.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term success rate with the autogenous fascia lata is slightly higher and this remains the first choice, allograft fascia lata is a good alternative in patients in whom fascia could not be harvested.