EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIMARY CORRECTION OF TRAUMATIC TELECANTHUS

To assess the aesthetic and functional results of primary treatment of telecanthus in patients with naso-orbito-ethmoidal fractures, the res ults in 36 patients were evaluated in a retrospective study. Twenty ha d double-sided telecanthus: 13 required an indirect technique of canth opexy and seven a direct technique. Sixteen had unilateral telecanthus , of whom six were treated by the indirect and 10 by the direct techni que. The intercanthal distance (ICD) was measured directly postoperati vely and more than 12, months after reconstruction. The late ICD after application of the direct technique was nearly 3 mm smaller (ANOVA, P less than or equal to 0.02, mean 34.3 mm) and yielded 2 mm less relap se (ANOVA, P less than or equal to 0.02) as compared with the indirect technique. Delayed or late-primary treatment showed a significantly h igher frequency of epiphora (chi-square test, P less than or equal to 0.05). Early primary treatment of traumatic telecanthus produced the b est aesthetic and functional result.