OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of two anastomoses (canaliculus-to-lacrimal sac anastomosis and end-to-end anastomosis) on nasolacrimal laceration for over 7 mm from the broken end to the dacryon.

METHODSA total of 71 patients (44 males and 27 females, aged 16-55 years, mean equal to 34.32 years) with fresh canalicular laceration were treated in our hospital from March 2003 to April 2008. Under a microscope, 37 patients were treated with lacrimal sac anastomosis (the treatment group) and 34 with end-to-end anastomosis (the control group), detaining silicone tubes till 3 months later.

RESULTSThe cure rate of the treatment group (89.19%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (55.56%). Class I cure rates were 70.27% in the treatment group and 47.06 % in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant (P less than 0.05). Postoperative inflammatory reactions had significant influences on the two kinds of anastomosing methods, but no significant difference was found between the two groups (P larger than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWhen the distance from the broken end to the dacryon is over 7 mm, especially when it is necessary to find the paranasal broken end of the lacrimal canaliculus with dacryocystotomy, canaliculus-to-lacrimal sac anastomosis is a better treatment method than end-to-end anastomosis for laceration of lacrimal canaliculus.