duct laceration

[tennik]

My cousin was playing college b-ball Wednesday and got a finger poked into his eye cutting his lower lid and lacrimal duct. He was brought to a nearby hospital and had a stent placed. Sounded fairly staight forward, but the doc told him 75% chance of full recovery.

Any insight? I am not sure if the doc was general ophtho, oculoplastics etc.

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[Andrew_Doan]

Patients usually do well after a canalicular repair with stents. Most patients have no problems with tearing after repair. A general ophthalmologist should be able to repair simple canalicular lacerations. See this case for details: http://www.eyerounds.org/case26.htm

In the case above, the injury was a dog bite instead of a finger; however, the mechanism of injury is similar.

 

[tennik]

The stent removal seems like it would be fairly invasive. Do you use general anesthesia? Also, I have read that the stent is left in for about three months, does this sound accurate?

Thanks, enjoyed the case report.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

The stent removal seems like it would be fairly invasive. Do you use general anesthesia? Also, I have read that the stent is left in for about three months, does this sound accurate?

Thanks, enjoyed the case report.

We try to leave the stent in for 6 months. The removal is not invasive, and can be done in the office. One snip and the stent slides out without any trouble.

 

[tennik]

Not to beat this thread into the ground, but patient now wants to return to basketball with risk of further trauma. I can't find info on how long to stay out, but if he wears goggles, it seems appropriate.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Not to beat this thread into the ground, but patient now wants to return to basketball with risk of further trauma. I can't find info on how long to stay out, but if he wears goggles, it seems appropriate.

After a couple of weeks, he can go back to playing basketball. Wearing goggles is a good idea.