AIM: To quantitatively analyse the anatomical structure after canalicular laceration, to provide a basis for finding nasal ends of the canalicular and to evaluate the feasibility of taking the lacrimal caruncle as anatomic landmarks for finding the nasal ends of the inferior canalicular.

METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, 100 cases(72 males and 28 females)of traumatic inferior canalicular laceration were chosen. They were completely random divided into the experimental group(n=50), finding the nasal ends of the inferior canalicular by applying the method of lacrimal caruncle anatomic landmarks; the control group(n=50), finding the nasal ends of the inferior canalicular by applying the direct vision method. The distance of the lacrimal punctum and the temporal side of the stump, the vertical distance and quadrant between nasal ends of the canalicular and lacrimal caruncle were measured. The success rate of the two groups to find the nasa lends of the canalicular were recorded. The data were compared using χ² test.

RESULTS: The nasal ends of the inferior canalicular in the semi-quadrant of the lacrimal caruncle was 94%. The canalicular nasal ends from the lacrimal caruncle of the vertical distance was 2.34±0.68 mm,in which lacrimal punctums pitch temporal side of the stump<4mm by nasal ends vertical distance of the lacrimal caruncle was 2.01±0.77mm. Lacrimal punctums pitch temporal side of the stump between 4-7mm was 0.57±0.19mm, lacrimal punctums pitch temporal side of the stump>7mm was 3.05±0.97mm. The success rate of surgery looking the inferior lacrimal duct nasal stump: experimental group: 49/50(98%), control group: 40/50(80%), the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Nasal ends of the inferior canalicular locates below the parallel lines of the lacrimal caruncle. The canalicular nasal ends locates in the deep side of the lacrimal caruncle within 2-3mm. The lacrimal punctum and the length of the temporal side can be used to clear the radius around the lacrimal caruncle. The success rate of finding the nasal ends of the experimental group is faster than the control group. The lacrimal caruncle as anatomic landmarks to find the nasal ends of the inferior canalicular is feasible, especially for patients whose inferior canalicular bitamporal side of the stump from inferior lacrimal punctum was 4-7mm.