Probing with and without Inferior Turbinate Fracture in Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction

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Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) occurs due to the failure of canalization of nasolacrimal duct usually at the level of the Hasner valve, at the distal end of the duct. Probing of the nasolacrimal duct is generally attempted after a child is more than 1-year-old and is generally quite effective with success rates ranging from 77% to 97% after 1sttime application. Adding infracting of the inferior turbinate to probing had been used to promote success rate of this procedure. In this study we try to evaluate efficacy of this procedure. Methods: In a prospective one side blinded clinical trial CNLDO patients randomly divided in two groups. Primary probing was done in the first group and in the second group probing plus inferior turbinate fracturing was done. Patients were examined by 3 and 6 months later and questioned if the child still has epiphoria. Results: After 3 months primary probing with fracturing inferior turbinate was more successful than primary probing alone, but this difference was not statistically significant. (P: 0.776). After 6 months Primary probing alone was more successful than primary probing with fracturing inferior turbinate, but this difference was not statistically significant. (P: 0.525) Conclusion: Primary probing with fracture of inferior turbinate in compare with simple probing has statistically same success rate.