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Use conjunctival flap replacement in cases of severe burn, surgeon says

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Conjunctival flap replacement may help patients with severe facial burn, according to a study in the Journal of Burns.

The timing of the conjunctival flap is important, Stuart Farris, MD, said. A delay in treatment could lead to corneal or anterior chamber abscess formation. Dr. Farris added that flaps placed over necrotic cornea usually become avascular, erode and are subsequently lost. Similarly, if too much time elapses and a corneal perforation occurs, a conjunctival flap would not be the procedure of choice, he said.

In general, while conjunctival flaps provide a cosmetically superior appearance to tarsorraphy, disadvantages include reduced visibility of anterior segment structures. Other disadvantages include a potential barrier to drug penetration, a cosmetically inferior appearance relative to keratoplasty and the likelihood of poor vision (20/200 or less), Dr. Farris said.