Outcomes of Canaliculotomy with and without Silicone Tube Intubation in Management of Primary Canaliculitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To compare the outcomes of canaliculotomy and curettage with and without silicone tube intubation in the treatment of primary canaliculitis.

Methods

A prospective, randomized, interventional case series was performed. Fifty patients diagnosed with unilateral inferior primary canaliculitis underwent canaliculotomy with curettage and were randomly divided into two groups depending on silicone tube intubation. Twenty-five patients were recruited in group A (without intubation) and 25 patients were recruited in group B (with intubation). The resolution of infection, the success rate and postoperative complications observed in both groups were analyzed with a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

Results

Forty-seven patients were finally included in the study consisting of 23 patients in group A and 24 patients in group B. There were 33 females and 14 males with a median age of 57 ± 13.9 years (range 29–89 years). All patients recorded complete resolution of canaliculitis and no recurrent infections were observed in the 2 groups during follow-up. A significantly higher number of anatomical and functional successes were achieved in patients in group B (100%, 87.5%) than in group A (78.3%, 60.9%) (P < .05,). The surgical complication of canalicular obstruction was significantly higher in patients in group A (21.7%, 5/23) compared to group B (0/24)(P < .05).

Conclusion

Canaliculotomy with curettage gives excellent clinical outcomes in the treatment of patients with primary canaliculitis and a higher success rate can be achieved when silicone tube intubation is performed during the procedure. The use of silicone tube intubation may be a necessary choice in canaliculotomy to avoid post-operative canalicular obstruction.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary canaliculitis
• canaliculotomy
• silicone tube intubation