Brow ptosis common after temporal artery biopsy

This study found that brow ptosis is not uncommon after temporal artery biopsy (TAB) but becomes less likely with incisions further away from the orbital rim and brow.

The authors reviewed the results of all TABs performed by two surgeons over a 17-month period. They included 75 biopsies performed in 68 patients with a mean age was 72.6 years (range, 51 to 96).

Postoperative brow ptosis was found in 12 patients (16 percent), with 58.3 percent of these fully resolving after an average of 4.4 months (range, one to six). Two patients (2.7 percent) had postoperative infections.

There was no correlation between facial nerve damage and use of blood thinners, biopsy result, surgeon, procedure difficulty, incision length or specimen length. However, the distance from the incision to both the orbital rim and the brow was significant, with the incidence of brow ptosis decreasing to 0 percent for incisions above the brow and incisions ≥35 mm from both the lateral brow and the lateral orbital rim.

They conclude that the incidence of postoperative brow ptosis after TAB is not rare. During preoperative counseling, patients should be warned of this risk, including the potential for no recovery of function.