Upper eyelid defect by dog bite reconstructed by an ipsilateral advanced tarsoconjunctival flap with skin graft

Abstract

A technique for reconstruction of a traumatic upper-eyelid marginal defect utilizing a local tarsoconjunctival advancement flap with a skin graft is presented. A 22-year-old woman was bitten by a dog, resulting in a fullthickness loss of approximately the central half of her left upper eyelid. Debridement was performed under topical anaesthesia followed by one-stage upper eyelid reconstruction. The residual tarsal plate was used as a tarsoconjunctival advancement flap to reconstruct the posterior lamella of the defect. Skin from the posterior aspect of the left ear was grafted onto the reconstructed posterior lamella with two setting tarsorrhaphy sutures. One month postoperatively, the patient had an excellent cosmetic result with appropriate upper eyelid height and curvature, although cilia were not transplanted. The technique described offers a one-stage procedure with a simple surgical method providing on appropriate cosmetic and functional result.