Treatment for ophthalmic paralysis: functional and aesthetic optimization

Abstract

Facial nerve palsy has an effect on a person’s well-being functionally and psychologically. Therefore, comprehensive patient management is essential. One of the most common uncomfortable and potentially debilitating features is associated with the incapacity for eye closure. Restoration of eye closure is a key consideration during the surgical management of facial palsy. In this article, we introduce simple surgical methods—which are relatively easy to learn and involve the upper and lower eyelids—for achieving eye closure. Correcting upper eyelid function involves facilitating the component of eye closure that is in the same direction as gravity and is, therefore, less complicated and favorable outcomes than correction of lower lid. Aesthetic aspects should be considered to correct the asymmetry caused by facial palsy. Lower eyelid function involves a force that opposes gravity for eye closure, which makes correction of lower eyelid ectropion more challenging than surgery for the upper eyelid, particularly in terms of effecting a sustained correction. Initially, proper ophthalmic evaluation is required, including identifying the chronicity and severity of ectropion. Also, it is important to determine whether or not lateral canthoplasty is necessary. The lateral tarsal strip procedure is commonly used for lower lid correction. However, effective lower lid correction can be achieved with better cosmesis when extensive supporting techniques are applied, including those involving cheek tissue.

INTRODUCTION

Facial palsy involves unilateral paralysis of the muscles of facial expression. Perhaps the most uncomfortable and potentially debilitating feature of facial palsy patients is the morbidity associated with the incapacity for eye closure, which directly impacts quality of life as, for example, it prevents patients from being able to read for long periods or ride a bicycle outdoors. Therefore, restoration of eye closure is of crucial importance in the surgical management of facial palsy [1,2]. Fortunately, there are some simple surgical methods that can achieve eye closure without the need for complex surgical techniques, such as oral commissure reconstruction in facial reanimation. In this article, we describe methods to restore function of the upper eyelid and lower eyelid, respectively.

Much of the morbidity associated with facial palsy has to do with the accompanying periorbital pathology and motor dysfunction. For example, palpebral fissure widening is associated with decreased visual acuity, and orbicularis oculi dysfunction leads to failure of the lower eyelid to overcome gravity, which directly leads to corneal exposure and epiphora [3,4]. The lagophthalmos is further aggravated by paralytic ectropion coupled with upper and lower eyelid retraction. The aim of management of seventh nerve palsy is restoration of ocular function while protecting the globe, maintaining visual acuity, and maximizing patient convenience. Therefore, the early stages of management aim to speed recovery and limit corneal exposure and restore the blink response [5,6].

UPPER EYELID CORRECTION

Correcting upper eyelid function involves facilitating the component of eye closure that is in the same direction as gravity and is, therefore, less complicated and more frequently associated with favorable outcomes than correction of lower lid ectropion. However, we need to understand the interaction of the levator aponeurosis in functional terms. Furthermore, aesthetic aspects should be considered to improve the eye asymmetry caused by facial palsy.

Gold weight placement

Illig [7] reported gold weight insertion first in 1958, and this is a mainstay of surgical eyelid repair. Implantable devices are commonly used to restore dynamic lid closure. Reinforcement of eyelid weight allows the upper eyelid to close with gravity. Implants are composed of 99.99% pure gold, and their weights range from 0.6 to 1.8 g (Fig. 1) [2,8,9]. The possible complications should be directly managed, and these include capsule formation, allergy, migration, plate exposure, and extrusion. To avoid complications, various modifications have been proposed and studied. We prefer the method that involves insertion of a platinum implant between the levator aponeurosis and the inner septum (Figs. 2, 3) [2]. This is a technically simple procedure that produces good functional and cosmetic results; it is also associated with few complications and is reversible in the context of restored facial function (Fig. 4).

Fig. 1.

Gold and platinum eyelid weights. Modified from Oh et al. Arch Plast Surg 2018;45:222-8 [2].

Fig. 2.

Gold weight placement. Intraoperative incision design and dissection were performed to separate the levator aponeurosis and to expose the tarsal plate. Adapted from Oh et al. Arch Plast Surg 2018;45:222-8 [2].

Fig. 3.

Postseptal platinum weight placement. We prefer placement between the levator aponeurosis and inner septum to decrease complications, such as extrusion.

Fig. 4.

A 44-year-old male patient had right-sided facial palsy for 13 years secondary to a pleomorphic adenoma resection. At the time of the tumor resection, simultaneous sural nerve and posterior auricular flaps were used. After 10 years, he was still unable to completely close his eye. Therefore, we performed platinum weight insertion (1.2 g) on his right eye, which corrected his lagophthalmos. (A) Preoperative eye open. (B) Preoperative eye closed. (C) Postoperative eye open. (D) Postoperative eye closed.

The most important component of successful correction is selection of implant weight. Patients should be in a seated position preoperatively, with the implant directly attached to upper lid skin, to allow for assessment of the weight’s patient-specific appropriateness, including the effect of gravity. We prefer weights between 1.1 and 1.3 g; however, some patients require heavier weights, and the choice of weights should be individualized. During fixation, we ensure that the medial side is securely fixed, because with the positions of the various eye-opening muscles, insufficient eye closure may result from inadequate fixation. In this way, this can be a source of success (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.

A 49-year-old female patient had left-sided facial palsy, related to a hemangioma operation at 3 years of age. After platinum weight insertion, she was able to close her eye naturally, and 3 months later she underwent free functional gracilis muscle transfer for facial reanimation. (A) Preoperative eye open. (B) Preoperative eye closed. (C) Postoperative eye open. (D) Postoperative eye closed.

Palpebral springs

With gold weights, palpebral springs are commonly used in the management of ocular dysfunction [10]. In the past, tarsorrhaphy was used for static fixation of the lids for eye closure; however, modern techniques focus on lid reanimation. This dynamic perspective is meaningful. The enhanced palpebral spring technique was originated by Levine in 1990 [10]. The spring design is inspired by eyelid anatomy. The wire is placed over the midtarsus centrally, and the loop has to be positioned laterally to the orbital rim. Unlike with gold weights, this procedure can be worked with the patient in the supine position.

Temporalis muscle transfer

The temporalis muscle is innervated by fifth nerve, and it is located near the periorbital lesion. Therefore, its transposition can be used to reanimate the face and effect lid closure [11]. Distally positioned muscle fascia is transferred into the upper and lower lid to act as an encircling sling. Movement can be initiated and potentiated by the patient chewing or clenching [12].

Müllerectomy

Improvement of lid retraction can be managed by Müllerectomy [13]. The dynamic balance between retractor and protractor tone determines upper eyelid position. Müller muscle excision can promote equilibrium between the protractor and retractor and thus reduce ocular exposure. Care was taken to avoid damage to the lacrimal gland ducts by not disturbing the lateral extensions of the Müller muscle [14].

Levator lengthening

Paul Tessier described a technique of lengthening the levator of the upper eyelid by aponeurosis interposition [15,16]. The technique is reliable, simple, and reproducible, allowing the weakening of the levator. Taking a temporal aponeurosis graft by coronal incision, the inferior edge of the upper eyelid levator is pulled toward the lower section to release the tissue fully. The aponeurosis graft is attached using a few separated stitches.

To optimize cosmetic outcomes, a good option can be levator lengthening combined with Müllerectomy. However, this does not fully improve orbicularis oculi function, and no opposite force is presented to the levator muscle, meaning that the lagophthalmos does not fully improve.

LOWER EYELID CORRECTION

Lower eyelid function involves a force that opposes gravity for eye closure, which makes correction of lower eyelid ectropion more challenging than surgery for the upper eyelid, particularly in terms of effecting a sustained correction. In terms of cosmesis, simple suspension of the tissue surrounding the lower lid can achieve unsatisfactory results. Thus, more extensive supporting techniques are required, including using the cheek tissue for lower lid elevation. For elderly patients, this technique can worsen lower lid ectropion due to preexisting lower lid laxity; therefore, lateral canthopexy should be performed to reduce laxity (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6.

A 57-year-old female patient had right-sided facial palsy for 2 years secondary to a parotid cancer resection. A mid-cheek lift with lateral canthopexy was performed. Scleral show was not seen at postoperative 13 months’ follow-up. The patient also underwent platinum weight insertion on her right eye, which corrected her lagophthalmos. (A) Preoperative eye open. (B) Preoperative eye closed. (C) Postoperative eye open. (D) Postoperative eye closed.

Medial and lateral canthoplasty

The choice of appropriate surgical management for lower lid ectropion depends on the type of ectropion observed during preoperative evaluation [17]. Initially, ectropion should be classified as present or current versus potential or latent, then symptoms should be evaluated, such as lagophthalmos, lid eversion, lid malposition, and lid laxity. Ectropion with lid malposition often results in lamellar contracture which easily leads to lid retracting forces; this should be suspended using a more rigid method. This can be achieved by drilling into the lateral orbital rim or using bone anchorage equipment [18]. Patients with potent ectropion and lid laxity also present with current ectropion and lateral lid eversion but no definite lid malposition; this can be treated with lateral tarsal strip canthopexy.

Tarsal strip

The lateral tarsal strip procedure was described by Anderson and Gordy in 1979 [19]. This is focused on enhanced lower lid laxity through shortening of the lower canthus and repositioning it more laterally upward. Commonly, it requires lateral canthotomy and cantholysis together to obtain favorable cosmesis. Both lid laxity and excessive horizontal length can be corrected simultaneously, maintaining a cosmetically acceptable anatomical canthal angle and achieving a quick recovery time [20]. The procedure requires careful lateral canthal tendon dissection and good overall reconstruction of the upper and lower eyelid attachment; if these criteria are not fulfilled, this procedure may cause asymmetry in the horizontal palpebral aperture [19,21,22].

Kuhnt–Szymanowski procedure

Lower lid shortening followed by a soft tissue defect commonly occur in association with ectropion. The Smith-modified Kuhnt–Szymanowski (SMKS) procedure is one of the most popular procedures to manage such presentations [23]. Consideration of the anthropometric complexity of the eyelid is essential [24]. The SMKS procedure begins with a subciliary incision beyond the lateral canthus, medial to the defect excised with a wedge shape; a posterior lamellar defect can be covered with a free chondromucosal graft from the nasal septum and a skin flap elevated superolaterally.

Suspension sling

Soft tissue suspension can be achieved using an autologous tendon graft—the palmaris longus tendon, for example—or an artificial device, such as the Mitek anchor system (Mitek Surgical Products Inc., Norwood, MA, USA). Hontanilla and Gomez-Ruiz [25] used a strip of palmaris longus tendon and passed it through the frontal apophysis of the maxillary and lateral orbital rim using an anchoring screw. The lower lid free border should be 1.5 mm above the pupil (Figs. 7, 8). The correction of lower lid malposition, including scleral show and ectropion, requires effective lateral canthoplasty. Fixation, to establish both stability and favorable cosmetic outcomes, can be accomplished with the Mitek suture anchor system through a minimal incision [26,27]. The suspensory technique’s short learning curve and quick, effective correction also provide good long-term results.

Fig. 7.

Palmaris longus tendon graft harvest.

Fig. 8.

Palmaris longus tendon insertion.

Mid-cheek lift

The mid-cheek lift technique minimizes the required amount of tension on the tissue by fixating it in the opposite direction of the force of gravity. The senior author of this article compared the effectiveness of the suspension sling versus lower eyelidsupporting mid-cheek lift techniques [28]. The mid-cheek lift group showed the greatest change in the ratio between the distance between the center of the pupil and the eyelid margin on the paralyzed side to that on the normal side. Therefore, we prefer the mid-cheek lift for lower lid retraction (Fig. 9). After dissection, the exposed malar fat pad should be fixed on the medial and lateral sides of the periosteum and the exposed orbicularis oculi muscle fixed to the inner part of the lateral orbital wall.

Fig. 9.

A 52-year-old male patient had left-sided facial palsy for 6 years. Severe ectropion was observed. After a mid-cheek lift was performed, improvement of scleral show proceeded. (A) Preoperative. (B) Postoperative 15 months.

CONCLUSION

Facial palsy treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Patients experiencing multiple symptoms, especially eye discomfort, should not be neglected. Active surgical interventions improve both cosmesis and quality of life. There are various approaches to correcting both the upper and lower lid. Patient age, degree of lagophthalmos, orbicularis function, and existing period of facial palsy, should all be considered. Functionally proper enhancement of eye closure ability and symmetric and restoration of eye cosmesis can be achieved by selecting the appropriate techniques. Furthermore, we believe eyelid reanimation in conjunction with facial reanimation can achieve excellent results.