How we do it: the viability of free mucosal grafts on exposed bone in lacrimal surgery - a prospective study.

To ascertain viability of free mucosal of grafts on bare bone and degree of contracture in vivo. Prospective study to ascertain graft survival where a small piece of mucosa, with a single centrally placed prolene suture for future identification, removed during endoscopic dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR) was replaced to cover exposed bone at the end of the procedure. The presence of the graft and the degree of contracture was assessed endoscopically in outpatients at the second and fourth weeks. All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria who underwent DCR in the study period April-October 2002. All the grafts survived intact at 4 weeks after the operation. Grafts underwent up to 20% contracture over this period. Free mucosal grafts survive well when applied to denuded bone in DCR operation.