One-stage reconstruction technique for large congenital eyelid coloboma.

PURPOSE: To determine the functional and cosmetic outcome of using skin graft from prepuce (after circumcision) to reconstruct eyelids in congenital lid coloboma.

PATIENT & METHODS: Four male infants with large eyelid coloboma and marked exposure keratopathy were included. All the patients were selected from the outpatient clinic of Tanta University Eye Hospital, Egypt from March 2006 till August 2009. One-stage reconstruction was used to repair the defect. For upper eyelid coloboma, sliding tarsoconjunctival flap with a free skin graft from of skin of prepuce (after circumcision) was done.For lower lid coloboma, conjunctival dissection with reflection over the cornea with use of a free skin graft from prepuce.

RESULTS: All infants had large unilateral defect, 3 upper lids and 1 lower lid. The cosmetic and functional outcome of using skin of the prepuce was satisfactory with good color match in all cases. Also functional and cosmetic results of tarsoconjunctival sliding flap was excellent. All the cases were followed up for a period ranged from 7 to 36 months.

CONCLUSION: Tarsoconjunctival rotational flap and the use of skin of prepuce are very helpful and seems to be an adequate method of reconstruction of large eyelid defect in male patients when the usual donor sites for skin grafts are not available as in infants.