Cicatricial Ectropion Correction using Autologous Skin Graft after Surgery for Blowout Fracture

Purpose: Cicatricial ectropion is caused by shortening of the anterior lamella, which is comprised of the skin and orbicularis muscle. There is a much higher incidence of ectropion after blowout fracture surgery that applies subciliary incisions than the transconjunctival approach. We report a case of lower lid cicatricial ectropion following blowout fracture reconstruction that was performed through subciliary incision and was successfully repaired by an autologous skin graft. Case summary: A 27-year-old man presented with right lower eyelid ectropion following surgery for a blowout fracture on the right inferior wall. The blow-out fracture had been reconstructed via a subciliary incision one year ago, by a plastic surgeon. His cicatricial ectropion was corrected through autologous skin graft from his left upper eyelid with a lateral tarsal strip procedure. The autologous skin graft successfully replenished the lower lid tissue defect, and the patient did not experience lid retraction or ectropion at 9 months after surgery. There were no postoperative complications on his left upper eyelid, which was the donor site for the autologous skin graft. Conclusions: Surgical repair with an autologous skin graft from the contralateral upper eyelid is an effective procedure for managing cicatricial ectropion following surgery or trauma in young patients.