[Effectiveness of upper eyelid rotation flap via blepharoplasty incision for correction of mild to moderate epicanthus].

[OBJECTIVE] To evaluate an modified epicanthoplasty which can reduce epicanthic scar in blepharoplasty with mild to moderate epicanthus, by using upper eyelid rotation flap via blepharoplasty incision.

[METHODS] A clinical data of 34 patients with mild and moderate epicanthus (trial group), who were treated with blepharoplasty and epicanthoplasty by using upper eyelid rotation flap, between July 2016 and October 2017, was retrospectively analyzed. And 38 patients who were treated with blepharoplasty and epicanthoplasty by using traditional "Z" plastic method were recruited as control group. There was no significant difference in age and degree of epicanthus between 2 groups ( >0.05). The lengths of palpebral fissure were measured at preoperation and at 6 days and 6 months after operation, and the length difference between pre- and post-operation was calculated to evaluate the improvement degree. The effectiveness was evaluated with reference to the scale of epicanthus orthopedics.

[RESULTS] All incisions of 2 groups healed by first intention, and all patients were followed up 6 months. The epicanthi of 2 groups were significantly corrected. The inner canthus of trial group had no incision; and there were scars at inner canthus of control group, with obvious hyperplasia in 6 cases. The improvement degree of the length of palpebral fissure in trial group and control group were 3.63%±0.07%, 3.70%±0.05% and 4.64%±0.09%, 4.46%±0.10% at 6 days and 6 months after operation, respectively. There was no significant difference between 2 groups ( =0.005, =0.996; =0.287, =0.871). The effectiveness was excellent in 20 cases, good in 12 cases, and poor in 2 cases in trial group, with an excellent and good rate of 94.12%; meanwhile, the effectiveness was excellent in 16 cases, good in 16 cases, and poor in 6 cases in control group, with an excellent and good rate of 84.21%. There was no significant difference between 2 groups ( =0.796, =0.372).

[CONCLUSION] The modified epicanthoplasty by using upper eyelid rotation flap via blepharoplasty incision can significantly reduce epicanthic scar with simple operation and satisfactory effectiveness.