Dr.ANWESHA CHAKMA, A19397
A 31 year old male with full-thickness lower lid injury and canalicular tear in right eye following a road accident underwent surgical repair in a rural hospital in central India. His visual acuity recorded for distance was 6/6 and the globe was not involved. The cut ends of the canaliculi were identified, punctum dilatation performed, a 22G intravenous cannula was threaded over its needle and the tear site was bridged. Procuring a silicone tube would take 2 days and more money.The cannula’s anchoring skin-stitch broke at 1 week. Else patient’s recovery was uneventful. Cannula was removed at 4 weeks. In a rural set-up, an indigenous solution saves not just money but precious time for the primary repair of critical canalicular wounds. However, the procedure is more difficult and its long-term failure rate needs to be evaluated.
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