Conjunctival Müllerectomy With or Without Tarsectomy Using Absorbable Versus Nonabsorbable Suture.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of blepharoptosis repair using conjunctival Müllerectomy with or without tarsectomy (CM±T) using absorbable suture versus nonabsorbable suture. METHODS: Retrospective case-series of all consecutive cases of CM±T ptosis repair between January 1, 2019, and August 31, 2021. Patients were placed in groups based on whether they had absorbable or nonabsorbable suture used during their procedure. Preoperative and postoperative measurements of MRD1 were gathered in both groups, and information on patient satisfaction, symmetry, complications, and reoperations. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients had surgery using nonabsorbable suture and 96 patients had surgery using absorbable suture, with average age of 72.0 and 70.9 years, respectively ( p = 0.488). When comparing nonabsorbable to absorbable suture, the groups did not differ on average preoperative MRD1 (1.11 mm [±0.96] vs. 0.96 mm [±0.86]; p = 0.161), average postoperative MRD1 (3.18 mm [±0.54] vs. 3.20 mm (±0.51); p = 0.736) or average MRD1 improvement (2.09 mm (±0.86) vs. 2.25 mm (±0.79); p = 0.089). Goal MRD1 was achieved in 85.3% of nonabsorbable cases and 82.8% of absorbable cases ( p = 0.562) and the rate of reoperation between groups was not significant ( p = 0.63). Good postoperative symmetry was noted in 91.6% of nonabsorbable and 91.0% absorbable suture cases ( p = 0.83). No difference in the number of complications was noted between groups ( p = 0.88), including need for contact lens placement (2.7% nonabsorbable, 1.3% absorbable; p = 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: The use of absorbable suture was found to have predictable and effective outcomes similar to cases using nonabsorbable suture for CM±T without an increase in complications or rate or reoperation.

Biplanar-pivoted V-Y Flap for Reconstruction of Medial Canthal Defects.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and effectiveness of a biplanar-pivoted V-Y flap design in reconstructing medial canthal defects of all sizes. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients who underwent repair of medial canthal region defects with the biplanar-pivoted V-Y flap from January 2016 to May 2021. Variables collected included age, gender, surgical indication, defect sizes and location, flap(s) and/or graft(s) used, and follow-up time. Outcome measures included complications, patient satisfaction with cosmesis, ability to close the defect with minimal wound tension, and additional surgeries. RESULTS: Eighteen cases of medial canthal, nasal sidewall, and nasojugal fold area reconstruction were performed using a biplanar-pivoted V-Y flap in 18 patients. The cohort included 7 males and 11 females with a mean age of 72.4 years (range, 52-92 years) and mean follow-up time of 4.4 months (range, 1-14 months). Mean defect size was 2.0 × 1.4 cm (range, 0.5-5.5 cm). Eight patients received concomitant full-thickness skin grafts, five patients underwent simultaneous rotational flap repair, one patient underwent simultaneous nasoglabellar myocutaneous flap repair, and one patient received a simultaneous traditional, nonbiplanar V-Y plasty of the upper eyelid. All defects were closed with no wound tension. No cases of infection, hemorrhage, or wound dehiscence occurred during follow-up. Complications included mild ectropion (2 patients) and mild tip necrosis (1 patient). No patients elected for reoperation. No trapdoor deformity was observed. No patients underwent reoperation for local tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The extended mobility of the biplanar-pivoted V-Y flap provides excellent closure of defects involving the medial canthal region with minimal surgical complications.

Unilateral Ptosis, Proptosis, and Orbital Myositis After Shingles Vaccination.

Vaccinations for shingles are recommended for most adults over 60 years of age and are typically well tolerated. The present case describes acute onset of unilateral ptosis, proptosis, and orbital myositis developing within days after administration of shingles vaccination. The episode resolved to baseline after 1 week of treatment with steroids. To the authors' knowledge, this is first reported case of orbital inflammation following shingles vaccination. Given the temporal relationship and rapid response to treatment, this may represent an autoimmune reaction to the shingles vaccine.

Dimensions, Function and Applications of the Auricular Muscle in Facial Plastic Surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine the dimensions and function of the auricular muscle and to consider applications of this muscle in facial plastic surgery. METHODS: Nonpreserved fresh frozen human cadaver dissections from the (HOSPITAL-Blinded) Body Donation program were dissected. The length and width of the superior auricular muscle were measured. One surgeon performed all dissections and measurements. RESULTS: A total of seven left and five right hemifaces were studied. The average central height of the superior auricular muscle was 4.7 cm, and an average width was 5.0 cm. There was no significant difference between the average values of the left versus the right hemiface measurements. The muscle originated in the fibers of the galea and temporal fascia and inserted into the conchal cartilage in each specimen. Engaging the muscle in its line of action yielded slight elevation of the forehead and prevented movement of the galea along the vertex of the scalp. CONCLUSIONS: The auricular muscle acts as an occipitofrontalis stabilizer and a weak brow elevator. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors - www.springer.com/00266 .

Longitudinal Changes in Adult Bony Orbital Volume.

PURPOSE: To our knowledge, no prior study has measured bony orbital volume in a group of subjects over time. This study evaluates longitudinal changes in bony orbital volume with age. METHODS: A search was created for patients with digitized CT imaging studies of the orbit at least 8 years apart. Charts with a history of prior head trauma, head and neck tumors, sinus disease, head surgery, elevated intracranial pressure, thyroid eye disease, or conditions that could affect bone metabolism were excluded. Three outcome measures were used: orbital volume, medial orbital wall length, and lateral orbital wall length. Categorical data were summarized with frequency (%); normally distributed continuous data are summarized with mean (standard deviation), and non-normally distributed data were summarized with median. Normality was verified with Shapiro-Wilk Test. Paired t-tests were used to analyze the differences in the 3 outcome variables. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-two subjects, 91 males and 91 females, were included. The median time between CT scans was 9.4 years. Orbital volume was significantly larger at the second scan than the first (p < 0.001). The average difference in orbital volume was 0.91 ml, an increase of 4.1%. Lateral orbital length was significantly shorter in the second scan than in the first (p = 0.046) though the difference was only 0.4 mm. There was no statistically significant change in medial orbital wall length. CONCLUSIONS: Bony orbital volume increases in individuals with age. This increase in orbital volume occurs in the context of soft tissue changes to contribute to the aging appearance of the periorbital region.

Comparison of Orbital Volume in Young Versus Senescent Human Skulls.

PURPOSE: To compare bony orbital volumes in young skulls with those of older skulls to elucidate aging-associated changes of the orbit. METHODS: One hundred Caucasian male skulls from the Hamann-Todd collection of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History were studied. There were 50 young skulls (age range, 19-33 years) and 50 senescent skulls (age range, 79-96 years). Volcanic sand was used to fill each orbit in an identical fashion and weighed as a proxy for volume. Digital calipers were used to perform linear measurements of the orbit. The relationship between orbit measures and skull size was assessed using Pearson's correlations and 95% CI, and statistical models to compare age groups adjusted for skull size. RESULTS: The volume of the orbits (P < 0.001), the horizontal diameter of the orbit (P = 0.015), and the orbital depth (P < 0.001) were significantly larger in the senescent group of skulls after adjusting for skull surface area. No significant differences were found in the vertical diameters of the orbit between the 2 groups. Skull size did not statistically differ between the age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in the depth and horizontal dimensions of the orbit lead to increasing bony orbital volume with increasing age. These changes in size and shape of the orbit with age may contribute to phenotypic changes of aging and may affect disease processes and management.

Temporal Fat Pad Volume in Patients With Thyroid Eye Disease.

PURPOSE: To determine whether thyroid eye disease (TED) is associated with a change in temporal fossa soft tissue volume. METHODS: CT imaging studies were selected from patients with TED considering orbital decompression surgery and from an age-matched group of controls presenting to the Emergency Department for nontraumatic conditions requiring CT imaging. Measurements of the temporal fossa fat pad and soft tissue thickness were used as a proxy for volume and were performed using the zygomaticotemporal suture as a reference point. Categorical variables were described using frequencies and percentages, while continuous variables were described using medians and standard deviations. Chi-square tests were used to assess the relationship between gender and age group, while t-tests were used to examine the relationship between continuous variables and age group. RESULTS: A total of 56 CT scans were evaluated, including scans from 28 patients with TED and 28 controls. The following measurements were found to be significantly larger in the TED population: left fat pad measured 5 mm above the zygomaticotemporal suture (p = 0.012), right fat pad measured 15 mm above the suture (p = 0.005), right soft tissue measured 15 mm above the suture (p = 0.026), left fat pad measured 15 mm above the suture (p = 0.006), and the left soft tissue measure 15 mm above the suture (p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid eye disease is associated with an increase in temporal fossa fat pad and soft tissue volume. These findings suggest that TED disease may produce pan-facial changes rather than changes confined to the peri-orbital region.

Anatomic Variations of the Infraorbital Foramen in Caucasian Versus African American Skulls.

PURPOSE: The infraorbital foramen (IOF) represents a highly conserved structure but demonstrates morphologic variability. The purpose of this study is to describe the IOF location, size, and supernumerary foramina in an African American population and compare it with a Caucasian population. METHODS: Sixty African American and 60 Caucasian skulls from the Hamann-Todd collection of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History were studied. The primary outcome was the number of accessory IOF and measurements of the location, size, shape, and direction of each foramen. Pearson chi-square, t tests, Fisher exact test, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The African American population had a smaller vertical IOF diameter (mean = 2.81 mm) compared with the Caucasian population (mean = 3.08 mm) on the right side (p < 0.01). The distance from the IOF to the anterior nasal spine on the left side was greater in the African American population (mean = 33.93 mm) compared with the Caucasian population (Caucasian mean = 32.84 mm, p = 0.03). The distance from the IOF to the zygomaticomaxillary suture was significantly shorter in the African American population (mean = 11.85 mm) compared with the Caucasian population (mean = 13.21 mm) on the left side (p = 0.01). Accessory foramina were found in 13 Caucasian skulls (21.7%) and 6 African American skulls (10%; p = 0.08). Two distinct types of IOF existed in each population, one close to the main foramen and one within the sutura notha. CONCLUSIONS: The IOF is smaller and exits more laterally, with a lower proportion of accessory foramina in an African American population compared with a Caucasian population. Both groups exhibit 2 distinct types of IOF. These morphologic differences should be noted during surgeries and anesthetic planning to avoid neurovascular complications.

Age-related Changes in Globe Position.

PURPOSE: To longitudinally evaluate for changes in globe position as part of the natural aging process. METHODS: A Cleveland Clinic Foundation imaging database of all head imaging scans performed from 1995 to 2017 was used to identify adults with normal orbits undergoing imaging studies at least 20 years apart. A total of 100 patients (200 globes) who had CT or MRI scans were studied. Globe position was determined by measuring the distance from the anterior aspect of the cornea to the zygomaticofrontal processes baseline. Clinically significant changes in globe position were defined as changes of ≥2 mm posteriorly (enophthalmos) or anteriorly (exophthalmos). RESULTS: On average, globe projection decreased by 0.25 ± 2.3 and 0.26 ± 2.2 mm in the right and left eyes, respectively. Clinically significant enophthalmos with age was measured in 55 (27.5%) globes in 35 (35%) individuals, while clinically significant exophthalmos with age was measured in 43 (21.5%) globes in 26 (26%) individuals. The proportion of cases that developed enophthalmos, exophthalmos, or experienced no change were not significantly different from each other (p = 0.26). No patients developed clinically significant enophthalmos in one eye and exophthalmos in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Adults may develop clinically significant enophthalmos, exophthalmos, or no change in globe position over a 20-year period. This lack of uniform change in globe position with age impacts surgical considerations for treatment of the aging periocular region.

Role of Retrobulbar Hyaluronidase in Filler-Associated Blindness: Evaluation of Fundus Perfusion and Electroretinogram Readings in an Animal Model.

PURPOSE: Hyaluronic acid gel filler-associated blindness is an uncommon but devastating complication. Hyaluronidase can potentially dissolve intravascular filler and improve perfusion; however, its role in filler-associated blindness has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of retrobulbar hyaluronidase on hyaluronic acid gel-induced ophthalmic artery occlusion in a rabbit model. METHODS: New Zealand red rabbits were used to simulate hyaluronic acid gel filler-associated vascular occlusive blindness. Ophthalmic artery occlusion and subsequent ischemia were confirmed by both retinal fundus photography and electroretinogram changes. Retrobulbar hyaluronidase 1,000 IU was injected 30 minutes after occlusion. Fundus photography and electroretinogram changes were recorded at 30, 60, 90, and 120 after administration of retrobulbar hyaluronidase. RESULTS: A total of 6 rabbits were used, for a total of 12 eyes. Four eyes were used as controls. Of the 8 experimental eyes, 2 eyes had recorded partial occlusion and 6 eyes had fully occluded ophthalmic arteries by angiographic evaluation. One of the partially occluded eyes demonstrated some improvement in perfusion 60 minutes after injection of retrobulbar hyaluronidase; however, electroretinogram readings remained flat over the 120-minute period of observation. Six eyes with completely occluded ophthalmic arteries showed no improvement in retinal perfusion with corresponding flat electroretinogram readings at 120 minutes following retrobulbar hyaluronidase injection. CONCLUSIONS: In this rabbit model, 1,000 IU of retrobulbar hyaluronidase administered 30 minutes after occlusion failed to reverse obstruction or restore function following hyaluronic acid gel occlusion of the ophthalmic artery.

Dimensions and Morphologic Variability of the Retro-Orbicularis Oculi and Frontalis Muscle Fat Pad.

PURPOSE: To quantify the complete dimensions of the retro-orbicularis oculi fat (ROOF) pad and to determine its relationship to other fat compartments of the forehead. METHODS: The entire forehead of 14 hemifaces of seven fresh frozen human cadavers (four female, three male) was dissected in the subcutaneous and submuscular planes. For each plane, a ruler was placed at the facial midline, and images of the dissection plane were taken at 90° and 45°. Images were analyzed for vertical height, horizontal length, the distance to midline from the point of maximal height, and area for each hemiface of the ROOF and for the entire fat compartment contiguous with the ROOF. A two-tailed t test was conducted between ROOF and ROOF plus the extended fat plane across all measurements. A Wilcoxon nonparametric signed rank test was performed to determine equivalent fat distribution of the extended fat plane over each cadaver's respective eye. RESULTS: The deep fat originating from the ROOF consistently extended laterally and superiorly in each specimen, distinctly separated via septae from the deep central, deep lateral, and the deep temporal fat compartments. The color, composition, and distribution of this contiguous deep fat did not differ phenotypically from the traditional ROOF. The extended deep fat plane possessed an average vertical height of 3.09 ± 0.68 cm, average distance to midline from point of maximal height of 3.56 ± 0.53 cm, an average horizontal length of 5.37 ± 0.82 cm, and an average area of 13.40 ± 2.69 cm. The extended deep fat demonstrated a statistically significant increase in maximal height, length, and total area compared with the ROOF. A Wilcoxon nonparametric signed rank test was nonsignificant (α = 0.01) across all measurements, demonstrating that the extended fat plane was similarly distributed over each eye. CONCLUSIONS: A layer of deep fat originating from the traditionally defined ROOF extends superiorly and laterally beneath the frontalis muscle, separate from the deep lateral, deep central, and deep temporal fat pads. This is the first study to clearly demonstrate a contiguous superficial musculoaponeurotic system layer of fat extending under both the orbicularis oculi and frontalis muscles. This plane of fat is more appropriately described as the retro-orbicularis oculi and frontalis fat.

Collagenoma of the Eyelid.

The rare case of an eyelid lesion comprised of hamartomatous dermal collagen, known as a collagenoma, is presented. Collagenomas may be sporadically acquired, or inherited as part of numerous autosomal dominant syndromes. In the appropriate clinical context, their diagnosis should prompt a thorough review of systems, systemic examination, and inquiry into family history, to assess for underlying autosomal dominant syndromes. Recognition of collagenomas may thus allow diagnosis of inherited syndromes, allowing patients to obtain appropriate genetic counseling, as well as screening and treatment of associated systemic pathology.