Long-term results of frontalis suspension using autogenous fascia lata for congenital ptosis in children under 3 years of age.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of frontalis suspension surgery for congenital ptosis using autogenous fascia lata for children under 3 years of age.

DESIGN: Retrospective nonrandomized interventional case series.

METHODS: This study included nine children (14 eyelids) with severe congenital ptosis aged less than 3 years. All patients underwent frontalis suspension surgery using autogenous fascia lata. Postoperative lid level results, ptosis recurrence, and cosmetic appearance of leg scars were evaluated after the operation.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 15.3 months (range, 6 months to 2.5 years) with a mean follow-up period of 41.6 months (range, 18 to 96 months). All children achieved satisfactory cosmetic and functional results, with no postoperative complications such as wound infection, corneal exposure, eyelid contour abnormalities, or ptosis overcorrection. No recurrence of ptosis was encountered. Harvesting was not difficult, and a sufficient amount of material was achieved. There was one patient (11.1%) with a hypertrophied leg scar.

CONCLUSIONS: Frontalis suspension using autogenous fascia is proposed as a possible procedure for correcting congenital ptosis in children younger than 3 years of age. It appears to be an effective and feasible treatment for children with poor levator muscle function in this age group.