Long-Term Outcomes of Canaliculotomy with Silicone Tube Intubation in the Management of Canaliculitis

Abstract

As a rare and often misdiagnosed disease of the lacrimal apparatus, only limited data exist on long-term outcomes of surgical methods for the treatment of primary canaliculitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate canaliculotomy with silicone tube intubation (STI) as a surgical procedure for canaliculitis in a long-term follow-up setting. A total of 25 eyes of 25 patients with canaliculitis treated with canaliculotomy and STI at the University of Muenster Medical Center, Germany, from 2015 to 2021 were included in this study. Data analysis involved clinical symptoms, complications, duration of STI and rate of recurrence. Mean patient age was 63.7 ± 17.2 years. After a follow-up time of 3.7 ± 1.5 years, 88% of cases showed no recurrence of inflammation. The mean duration of STI was 5.8 ± 3.4 months. Complications such as post-operative hemorrhage, spread of infection, obstruction of the canaliculus or migration of the STI were not observed in any of the patients. However, tube dislocation occurred in four cases, a pyogenic granuloma in two cases and a fistula formation in one case. The management of canaliculitis by canaliculotomy with STI showed very good postoperative outcomes and low complication rates in the long-term and can therefore be considered a safe and successful surgical approach.