Botulinum-induced alteration of nerve-muscle interactions in the human orbicularis oculi following treatment for blepharospasm.

To assess longstanding alterations in human muscle innervation induced by botulinum toxin, we studied motor axons in the orbicularis oculi of nine patients previously injected with botulinum toxin for treatment of benign essential blepharospasm (BEB). Compared with untreated BEB and normal orbicularis oculi, muscle exposed to botulinum toxin developed persistent and cumulative alterations of innervation, including (1) thin, unmyelinated axonal collaterals that contact muscle end plates, (2) an increased number of muscle fibers innervated by individual terminal motor axons, (3) a profusion of unmyelinated axonal sprouts that end blindly, (4) an increased range of end plate sizes, and (5) multiple end plates on individual muscle fibers. The findings suggest that axonal sprouts which develop after botulinum-toxin-induced functional denervation can form new end plates. A single muscle fiber may then be innervated at separate sites by more than one axon.

Motor nerve sprouting in human orbicularis muscle after botulinum A injection.

The paralytic properties of botulinum A toxin have led to its use in humans in the treatment of strabismus and facial dystonias such as essential blepharospasm. Examination of orbicularis muscle from 10 patients with essential blepharospasm who received 2-18 injections of botulinum toxin 6 weeks to 3 years prior to surgery revealed characteristic nodal, terminal and ultraterminal "sprouting" of the motor axons. Orbicularis muscle from five individuals never exposed to botulinum failed to demonstrate these changes. The significance of persistent motor nerve sprouting in response to botulinum exposure remains to be elucidated.

Whitnall's sling with superior tarsectomy for the correction of severe unilateral blepharoptosis.

The management of severe unilateral blepharoptosis is problematic. In the presence of poor levator function, conventional surgical techniques frequently do not adequately elevate a ptotic eyelid. From May 1988 through July 1991, we used 4- to 5-mm external resections of the superior tarsus in conjunction with a maximal aponeurectomy (Whitnall's sling procedure) to augment blepharoptosis correction in selected cases of severe unilateral blepharoptosis. Seventeen (68%) of 25 patients with poor levator function blepharoptosis who underwent this new surgical procedure achieved a lid height within 1 mm of the opposite lid with good or excellent ocular function, cosmesis, and eyelid crease formation. Mild to moderate degrees of exposure keratopathy developed early in the postoperative period in all patients. This exposure keratopathy ultimately resolved in most patients. Superior tarsectomy safely augments the blepharoptosis correction of a Whitnall sling procedure in severe blepharoptosis, improving the results of aponeurotic surgery in patients with severe unilateral blepharoptosis.

Ocular neuromyotonia in Graves dysthyroid orbitopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To describe 2 patients with ocular neuromyotonia in association with Graves orbitopathy and to consider the possible underlying mechanisms. DESIGN: Description of the clinical findings in 2 patients with these conditions. SETTING: Neuro-ophthalmology referral centers. PATIENTS: Two patients, aged 55 and 52 years, had episodic, involuntary periods of vertical diplopia and dysthyroid orbitopathy. INTERVENTION: Treatment with carbamazepine in one patient and external beam radiation therapy in the second patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency and duration of episodic spasms of the extraocular muscles. RESULTS: Although radiation therapy is the most common association with ocular neuromyotonia, it cannot explain the involuntary contractions of extraocular muscles in all affected patients. Other mechanisms must be involved, such as those discussed in this article. CONCLUSION: Ocular neuromyotonia is described in 2 patients with dysthyroid orbitopathy, confirming previous findings. Possible mechanisms are given.

Histologic features of human orbicularis oculi treated with botulinum A toxin.

To evaluate muscle histologic features in humans following therapeutic botulinum toxin injections, we studied orbicularis oculi from 11 patients with blepharospasm; nine had previously received botulinum toxin injections and two had not. All muscles had comparable variability in muscle fiber diameter, with no necrosis, inflammation, denervation, or consistent alterations in muscle fiber internal architecture. Botulinum toxin produces no persistent histologic changes in human muscle fibers.

Medial canthotomy and cantholysis in eyelid reconstruction.

Combined medial canthotomy and cantholysis is a quick, technically simple, single-stage reconstructive technique for use in the reconstruction of the upper or lower eyelid. This technique, which transects one lacrimal canaliculus, provides up to 20% of the horizontal eyelid dimension for closure. Medial canthotomy and cantholysis is most frequently used in combination with other eyelid reconstructive techniques for difficult reconstructions, which would otherwise require more extensive surgical procedures. The surgical technique is readily performed with the patient under general anesthesia and entails the transection of one lacrimal canaliculus, lysis of one crus of the medial canthal tendon, and lateral advancement of the medial eyelid stump. We used medial canthotomy and cantholysis in the reconstruction of 29 eyelid defects (21 upper eyelids and eight lower eyelids) over a 12-year period with adequate reconstructive results in all cases. Eleven of the patients underwent simultaneous lateral canthotomy and cantholysis. Complications of the medial canthotomy and cantholysis technique include anterior displacement of the medial portion of the eyelid, epiphora, notching of the medial portion of the eyelid, medial ectropion, and blepharoptosis. If used with appropriate case selection, this technique allows an optimal reconstructive result to be achieved with a minimum of operative time and morbidity.

Ocular movements in essential blepharospasm.

In essential blepharospasm histopathologic and electrophysiologic evidence supports the existence of lesions in proximity to brainstem nuclei controlling ocular movements. We studied horizontal ocular movements in eight patients who had been treated previously with surgery or botulinum toxin injection to control essential blepharospasm (mean age, 58 years) and compared these with seven control subjects who did not have blepharospasm (mean age, 68 years). We examined fixation stability, saccades, the vestibulo-ocular reflex, visual enhancement and suppression of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, optokinetic nystagmus, and pursuit by using digitally sampled, direct current electro-oculography. Patients with blepharospasm exhibited no ocular movement abnormalities. Since quantitative aspects of ocular movements are sensitive to nonspecific brainstem lesions, the absence of abnormal ocular movements suggests that the lesion in blepharospasm is specifically limited to neurons regulating the facial muscles.

Combined transconjunctival/intranasal endoscopic approach to the optic canal in traumatic optic neuropathy.

Surgical decompression of the optic canal is indicated in patients with traumatic optic neuropathy who fail to respond to corticosteroids. Traditional surgical approaches to the orbital apex have been effective in achieving optic nerve decompression but require either a craniotomy, provide limited exposure with late identification and protection of the optic nerve, or require external incisions. The combined transconjunctival/intranasal endoscopic approach to the optic canal offers sufficient exposure, allows early identification and protection of the optic nerve, provides space for the use of multiple surgical instruments, obviates a craniotomy and external incisions, and can be performed quickly with minimal morbidity. The technique of combined transconjunctival/intranasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression will be described and the experience with nine cases will be presented.

Complications of the transconjunctival approach. A review of 400 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the intraoperative and postoperative complications of the transconjunctival approach, as well as their prevention, management, and outcomes. DESIGN: A retrospective study of the complications in 400 patients who underwent the transconjunctival approach to the lower eyelid or orbit for treatment of orbital trauma or the aging face. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral medical center. RESULTS: There were 8 cases of conjunctival granuloma, 2 cases of entropion, and 1 case each of hematoma, ectropion, prolonged chemosis, conjunctival inclusion cyst, lower eyelid laceration, and avulsion with lacrimal system injury. CONCLUSIONS: Complications of the transconjunctival approach are uncommon. When they do occur, proper management results in a successful outcome.

Primary surgical management for rehabilitation of the paralyzed eye.

Protection of the eye is the primary concern in managing the patient with facial paralysis; however, the aesthetic consequences cannot be overlooked. Lagophthalmos has traditionally been treated with frequent ocular lubrication, medical eye care, and tarsorrhaphy. This approach is fraught with the difficulties of poor patient compliance and unacceptable cosmesis. We suggest a protocol for the complete ocular management with emphasis on immediate rather than delayed surgical rehabilitation as a primary therapy in facial paralysis. Gold weight implantation to the upper lid and tightening of the lower lid at the lateral canthus are simple and reliable procedures that provide immediate functional and aesthetic improvement. This surgical technique has extremely low morbidity and is reversible should facial function return. We have used this protocol in more than 30 patients with excellent results.

Effect of botulinum toxin pretreatment on laser resurfacing results: a prospective, randomized, blinded trial.

BACKGROUND: Facial laser resurfacing and chemodenervation with botulinum toxin type A are used independently as means of nonsurgical facial rejuvenation. Recent reports in the literature have described combining these 2 therapies, claiming improved and longer-lasting laser resurfacing results. To date, no scientific investigation has been undertaken to prove or disprove this theory. DESIGN: Institutional review board-approved, prospective, randomized, blinded study at university-affiliated outpatient cosmetic surgery offices. INTERVENTION: Patients had one side of their face injected, at specific anatomic subsites (crow's feet, horizontal forehead furrows, and glabellar frown lines), with botulinum toxin 1 week before laser resurfacing. After receiving an injection, patients underwent cutaneous laser exfoliation on both sides of the face with either a carbon dioxide or an erbium dual-mode laser. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' injected (experimental) and noninjected (control) sides were compared after laser resurfacing. Follow-up was documented at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after laser resurfacing. Subjective evaluation, based on a visual analog scale, was performed in person by a blinded observer. Furthermore, a blinded panel of 3 expert judges (1 facial plastic surgeon, 1 oculoplastic surgeon, and 1 cosmetic dermatologist) graded 35-mm photographs taken during postoperative follow-up visits. RESULTS: Ten female patients were enrolled in the study. A 2-tailed t test showed that all sites that were pretreated with botulinum toxin showed statistically significant improvement (P< or =.05) over the nontreated side, with the crow's feet region showing the greatest improvement. Comparing results between the carbon dioxide and erbium lasers did not result in any statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperdynamic facial lines, pretreated with botulinum toxin before laser resurfacing, heal in a smoother rhytid-diminished fashion. These results were clinically most significant in the crow's feet region. We recommend pretreatment of movement-associated rhytides with botulinum toxin before laser resurfacing. For optimum results, we further recommend continued maintenance therapy with botulinum toxin postoperatively.

Modifications to the semicircular flap technique in eyelid reconstruction.

The most common reconstructive procedure in the upper and lower eyelid is direct closure of the lid margin. When additional mobilization of tissue is needed to close a defect, lateral canthotomy and cantholysis is suggested. Mobilization of tissue beyond the lateral orbital rim is occasionally required. We have found that in the lower eyelid the mobilized tissue is much better supported if the initial incision is made vertically toward the eyebrow rather than temporally, as is suggested with the semicircular flap technique. We describe modifications to this technique, which we refer to as the vertical-temporal advancement flap, and present the results in 28 consecutive patients followed for 8 months to 3 years.

Nodular fasciitis presenting as a rapidly enlarging episcleral mass in a 3-year-old.

A rapidly enlarging periocular mass in a child obligates the treating physician to rule out a malignancy, especially a rhabdomyosarcoma. A 3-year-old girl presented with a 5-day history of a rapidly growing episcleral mass superonasal to the globe, adjacent to the superior rectus muscle insertion. The lesion was locally excised. A sarcoma could not be excluded on frozen sections. Permanent sections and electron microscopy revealed nodular fasciitis, a benign lesion with a pseudosarcomatous histologic appearance. No recurrence has been noted at 9 months follow-up. Nodular fasciitis is a benign proliferation which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a rapidly enlarging subconjunctival or orbital mass in a child.

Benign orbital fibrous histiocytoma simulating a lacrimal gland tumor.

The case of a patient with a lacrimal fossa mass that was believed to be a primary lacrimal gland tumor is reported. However, at lateral orbitotomy the tumor was found within the lacrimal fossa, but distinct from the lacrimal gland. Histopathology revealed a benign fibrous histiocytoma. The tumor was totally excised, has not recurred over a 3-year follow-up period. This mesenchymal tumor should be included in the differential diagnosis of lacrimal fossa mass in adults.