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Tarsorrhaphy

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology

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Synonyms

Temporary suture tarsorrhaphy (TST)

Definition

A surgical procedure designed to protect the ocular surface by narrowing or closing the palpebral aperture.

Indication

Central tarsorrhaphies are generally a temporary measure to treat non-healing epithelial defects and neurotrophic ulcers. They may also be required in critically ill, intubated patients with lagophthalmos. Aggressive lubrication and moisture chambers are typically used as primary interventions, but tarsorrhaphy becomes necessary with evidence of progressive exposure keratitis.

Lateral tarsorrhaphies are used to reduce ocular surface evaporation by narrowing the horizontal palpebral aperture. They may be used in patients with facial nerve palsies or other pathologies expected to result in long-term exposure-related problems.

Contraindication

Tarsorrhaphies are contraindicated in patients with active bacterial infection, though they may be used as an adjunct for treated ulcers with delayed epithelial healing....

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References

  • Cosar CB, Cohen EJ, Rapuano CJ, Maus M, Penne RP, Flanagan JC, Laibson PR (2001) Tarsorrhaphy: clinical experience from a cornea practice. Cornea 20(8):787–791

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  • Ehrenhaus M, D’Arienzo P (2003) Improved technique for temporary tarsorrhaphy with a new cyanoacrylate gel. Arch Ophthalmol 121(9):1336–1337

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  • Kitchens J, Kinder J, Oetting T (2002) The drawstring temporary tarsorrhaphy technique. Arch Ophthalmol 120(2):187–190

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  • McInnes AW, Burroughs JR, Anderson RL, McCann JD (2006) Temporary suture tarsorrhaphy. Am J Ophthalmol 142(2):344–346

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  • Robinson C, Tantri A, Shriver E, Oetting T (2006) Temporary eyelid closure appliqué. Arch Ophthalmol 124(4):546–549

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, 900 North West, 17th Street, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Benjamin P. Erickson

Authors
  1. Benjamin P. Erickson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin P. Erickson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Erickson, B.P. (2014). Tarsorrhaphy. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_870-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_870-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

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