Results of levator excision followed by fascia lata brow suspension in patients with congenital and jaw-winking ptosis.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to examine the results of frontalis brow suspension after levator excision in patients with ptosis, and to determine whether satisfactory cosmetic results can be achieved with this procedure.

METHODS: A retrospective case notes review of 13 patients (21 lids) undergoing levator weakening and frontalis brow suspension using autogenous fascia lata was performed. Seven patients (14 lids) were affected by the Marcus Gunn jaw-winking phenomenon. These had bilateral levator muscle excision. Five patients (5 lids) had unilateral congenital levator dystrophy (isolated congenital ptosis) with poor levator function. These had levator muscle excision on the normal side only. One patient (2 lids) had congenital aberrant regeneration of the third nerve. This patient had bilateral levator muscle excision. A successful result in terms of lid height was defined as a lid height within 1 mm of the desired height.

RESULTS: During the first post-operative month, 11 out of 21 lids were undercorrected by more than 1 mm, whilst 10 achieved a satisfactory lid height. At subsequent follow-up visits, 18 lids were within 1 mm of the desired height and only 3 lids of 2 patients remained undercorrected by more than 1 mm and required further surgery. There were no overcorrections.

CONCLUSIONS: Excision of the levator muscle followed by brow suspension ptosis correction can reliably produce satisfactory cosmetic results with good symmetry of lid movement and position. It is used selectively in the normal upper lid in congenital ptosis with poor levator function and in both upper lids in synkinetic ptosis.