Repair of exposed porous polyethylene implants utilizing flaps from the implant capsule
Presented in part at: American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, November, 2000, Dallas, Texas, and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Meeting, November, 2000, Dallas, Texas.
Received 28 April 2004; accepted 20 September 2004. published online 07 January 2005.
Purpose
To determine the feasibility of the use of flaps from the capsule surrounding porous polyethylene implants in repairing large or recurrent implant exposures.
Design
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.
Participants
Sixteen patients with exposed porous polyethylene implants.
Methods
Vertical and horizontal flaps were created from the implant capsule. These flaps were used to create a double layer of closure to seal the exposure. All patients had a minimum follow-up of at least 12 months.
Main outcome measures
Repair of the exposure without recurrence during the follow-up interval, and assessment of complications.
Results
At the last follow-up visit, the socket was completely healed in all but 2 patients. In 1 of them, the implant was subsequently exchanged. Other complications included motility loss, conjunctival cyst, and granuloma formation.
Conclusions
The use of the implant capsule to salvage exposed porous polyethylene implants is an effective technique; it is associated with some complications that can be minimized by careful case selection.
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
2Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Correspondence to Hatem A. Tawfik, MD, 5 Ibn Elnafis Street, Off Makram Ebeid Street, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
Manuscript no. 240319.
The authors have no proprietary interest in the study.
ABSTRACT