| Abstract | | Purpose: To present most important guidelines, surgical techniques and materials used for surgical eyelid repair and reconstruction after trauma. Some cases of secondary reconstruction and lachrymal drainage system trauma are presented as well. Patients and methods: Patients with severe eyelid trauma are presented. In most of the cases primary surgical repair or reconstruction was performed, but also some patients with secondary reconstruction are presented. Materials used for reconstruction are divided in autologous grafts and flaps (retroauricular skin, skin from the opposite eyefid, labial mucosa, tarsomarginal graft, hard palate and flaps), alotransplantate (Alloplant®, amniotic membrane) and synthetic materials (Gore-Tex, mersilene mesh, silicone). In some secondary reconstructions autologous bones were also used (rib, crista iliaca superior ant.). All procedures were performed in general anaesthesia. Results: Best functional and aesthetic results were achieved with primary reconstruction. Results were satisfactory also after late reconstruction, but in such cases several successive surgical procedures were necessary and the rehabilitation period was longer. Conclusions: Most important guidelines for successful primary surgical posttraumatic eyelid repair are: thorough clinical examination, delay surgery until optimal conditions are available-up to 72 hours, remove all dirt and foreign bodies, precise tissue reposition, do not excise tissue.
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