Levator palpebralis superioris muscle histopathologic findings in congenital ptosis and surgical outcome after its resection: Is there any association?

Purpose: To evaluate the histopathologic findings of Levator palpebralis superioris (LPS) muscle biopsy after LPS resection for treatment of congenital ptosis and its possible relation with surgical outcomes. Methods Congenital ptosis patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. All of them underwent full ophthalmologic examination included of Margin-reflex distance 1 (MRD-1) and LPS function measurement preoperatively. The patients were followed for three months for the postoperative period and after that the measurements were repeated. Histologic parameters including percentages of fat, striated and smooth muscle, and fibrous tissue. The histopathologic findings and their possible correlation with the measurements are analyzed. Results 67 patients with unilateral congenital ptosis were enrolled. 45 patients (67.2%) were males. The mean age of patients was 16.10 ± 11.18 years. The patients’ MRD-1 was improved significantly from 0.82 ± 1.26 mm to 3.85 ± 1.25 mm after LPS resection (P = 0.000). The success rate was 80.3%. There were no correlations between MRD change and histopathologic tissue percentages but significant correlation was found between success of surgery and fibrous tissue percentage of resected sample (P = 0.033). Conclusions The histopathology of the LPS may be useful in prediction of surgical outcome after LPS resection in congenital ptosis patients. The percentage of fibrous tissue play an important role.