Effect of Nasal Wall Fixation of Silicone Tube Intubation on Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

Purpose: We determined the effects of silicone tube tip fixation on the nasal wall using an absorbable suture during silicone tube intubation in patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: Patients (55:71 eyes) diagnosed with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and who underwent silicone tube intubation were divided into two groups: those in which the silicone tube was fixed to the nasal wall using an absorbable suture (fixed group) or not (non-fixed group). We investigated the percentage of silicone tube displacement, the time for displacement, the success of surgery, and the method of removing the silicone tube after surgery. Results: The mean age, percentage of early displacement within 1 month, time to displacement, and success rate of surgery were 2.4 years, 0% (0/35), 1.4 months, and 100% (35/35) in the fixed group (35 patients) and 1.8 years, 44% (16/36), 0.8 months, and 97% (35/36) in the non-fixed group (36 patients), respectively. Both groups were able to remove the silicone tube simply through lacrimal punctum at the outpatient clinic. Conclusions: In patients with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction, silicone tube fixation at the nasal wall after silicone tube intubation can prevent early displacement of silicone tubes within 1 month. This is a simple and effective technique because it removes the silicone tube through the lacrimal punctum without general anesthesia or intravenous anesthesia.