Lateral Canthal Clefts of the Eyelid

PURPOSE: Facial clefts are congenital anomalies classified by Tessier based on their anatomical position. Tessier 8 craniofacial clefts extend from the lateral canthus to the temporal region, including bone cleft at the frontozygomatic suture, and it is characterized by the interposition of a strip of skin at the lateral canthus that disrupts the continuity of the orbicularis muscle, preventing its normal functioning. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 6 patients with congenital eyelid coloboma, of whom 5 underwent surgery for the removal of dermolipoma and reconstruction of the lateral canthus. After surgery, the shape and symmetry of the lid fissure was restored, and motility was maintained. Vertical and horizontal measurements of the palpebral fissure were carried out before and after surgery. RESULTS: Five cases of lateral colobomas were evaluated after surgical treatment up to a year post operatively. The surgical correction with limited resection of the tumor was very effective, and the resulting small horizontal scar almost disappeared over time. In all cases, motility was maintained, and there were no cases of symblepharon. After surgery, there was improvement in the shape and symmetry of the eyelid fissures. CONCLUSIONS: Tessier' Number 8 facial cleft coloboma is characterized by the interposition of a skin strip, constituting a dermolipoma between the upper and lower eyelids that disrupts the continuity of the orbicularis muscle, and lateral bone alteration. The surgical correction of dermolipoma should be performed conservatively with limited resection of the tumor. A simple canthoplasty was very effective, and the small scar practically disappears over time. The absences of bone alteration in the cases presented suggest a unusual variation of lateral canthal cleft.