Hübner's eyelid reconstruction using a free tarsomarginal autograft in eight dogs. A retrospective study.

Objective: The aim of our work was to study the potential of tarsomarginal grafting technique, in canine.

Animal Studied: All dogs included in this study had tumors of the upper or lower eyelid. Furthermore, resection of the tumor necessitated excision of the eyelid margin comprising 1/4 and 2/3.

Procedure: Harvesting of the graft with the length of half the length of the tumor, including its free margins was performed via a full-thickness incision on the ipsilateral healthy eyelid. The cutaneous layer and all of the muscle fibers of the transplant were meticulously removed except a 3 mm strip along the free lid margin. A full-thickness tumor excision was then performed. The graft was sutured at the level of the defect to be reconstructed. A sliding H flap was generated. The resulting nourishing myocutaneous flap was then sutured along the free margin of the tarso-conjunctivo-marginal graft. The lateral edges of the advancement flap were sutured to the edges of the receiving sites.

Results: The average size of the reconstructed area was 17.8 mm. The resulting stretched lid fissure length after surgery was shortened over 7 to 11 mm. This technique for grafting was used to reconstruct an eyelid that had lost tissue measuring between 1/4 and 2/3 of its length. The few complications that were encountered were mainly the occurrence of keratitis or suture dehiscence.

Conclusions: This tarsomarginal grafting technique has yielded encouraging results in dogs. This technique can fill large lid defects with a physiologic lid margin but is shortening the stretched lid fissure length.