Transcutaneous stitch for transperiosteal identification of the medial canthal ligament.

This paper presents a technique whereby the canthal ligament can be identified through the periosteum without creating an external incision. Prior to releasing the tendon from the bones, the assistant will stretch the lateral canthal ligament while the surgeon places a stitch through the medial canthal ligament and tattoos the ligament and the underlying bone. After the forehead flap is mobilized and the ligament is detached from the bone by elevation of the periosteum, the previous stitch on the medial canthal ligament is pulled, which will provide a firmer consistency to the ligament, thereby facilitating the differentiation of the ligament from the surrounding soft tissue. Using this and the tract tattooed previously, the ligament can be identified easily without creating any external scars.