Figure 1  .

Change in the estimated area of the soft tissue anastomosis immediately after surgery in 16 dacrocystorhinostomies (DCRs) and (A) the bone window measured at surgery or (B) the soft tissue anastomosis when healed at 6 months. Likewise, the size of the fistula at 6 months is related to that immediately after surgery (C). The mean areas of the rhinostomy and the soft tissue anastomosis at 1 day, 2 weeks, and 6 months are compared, this showing that contracture of the mucosal fistula occurs mainly during the first 2 weeks after surgery (D). The oblique lines (A-C) represent the loci of equality, demonstrating that all anastomoses become smaller with time.