Porous Orbital Implant Exposure: The Influence of Surgical Technique

Abstract

Objectives: To examine orbital implant exposure rates following enucleation and evisceration.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent an evisceration or enucleation in a single centre over a 5-year period was performed. The indication for surgery, the type and size of orbital implant used, details of the surgical technique adopted and the postoperative complications observed, in particular orbital implant exposure, were recorded.

Results: Over a 5-year period 24 patients had enucleation and 14 had evisceration; 22 of these procedures were performed by an ophthalmic surgeon with a special interest in orbit and oculoplastics while the remaining 16 procedures were performed by 5 ophthalmic surgeons with other sub-specialty interests. Orbital implant exposure occurred in 8 cases. One case had been performed by the first of these surgeons described. Implant exposure occurred in 4% of cases performed by this surgeon. The remaining 7 cases had been performed by the group of surgeons with sub-specialty interests outside of orbit and oculoplastics. Implant exposure occurred in 48% of cases performed by this group.

Conclusions: Orbital implant exposure remains a significant cause of morbidity in patients undergoing enucleation and evisceration. Rates of orbital implant exposure were significantly lower when surgery was performed by an orbital surgeon. Differences in surgical technique are the most likely explanation.     

Safety of unwrapped spherical orbital implants

PURPOSE: To determine the exposure rate of unwrapped spherical orbital implants after enucleation surgery. METHODS: Retrospective review of consecutive case series. All patients undergoing orbital implantation during enucleation surgery from October 1999 to September 2003 were included. Charts were reviewed for preoperative diagnoses, type and size of implant, use of a wrapping material, and complications. RESULTS: Twenty-six consecutive patients underwent enucleation surgery without wrapping material. Nineteen patients received porous polyethylene, 5 patients received polymethylmethacrylate, and 2 received hydroxyapatite. Mean implant diameter was 21.03 mm. Mean follow-up was 17.1 months (range, 2 to 43 months). There were no complications of implant extrusion, exposure, infection, or migration. CONCLUSIONS: The use of unwrapped spherical orbital implants may be associated with a low rate of early exposure. Careful choice of implant type may help reduce the risk of implant exposure.     

The porous polyethylene (Medpor) spherical orbital implant: a retrospective study of 136 cases

PURPOSE: To evaluate complications and risk factors associated with the placement of wrapped and unwrapped porous polyethylene (PP) spherical implants after evisceration, enucleation, or secondary implantation. METHODS: A retrospective, interventional, noncomparative case series of consecutive cases of PP implant placement after anophthalmic socket surgery performed by three surgeons over a 5-year period. A PP spherical implant was placed in 133 patients, 61 women (2 bilaterally) and 72 men (1 bilaterally). There were 91 enucleations, 30 eviscerations, and 15 secondary implant placements. Sixty-six (48.5%) implants were wrapped prior to placement. Parameters evaluated included: age, sex, prior ocular surgery or radiation treatment, indications for surgery, procedure performed, size of PP sphere, material used to wrap the implant, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 17 of 136 (12.5%) cases had documented postoperative complications, with implant exposure being the most common. In 5 patients (3.7%), implant exposure developed: 1 after evisceration and 4 after primary enucleation. Three of the five exposures were small and resolved with either observation alone or in one case with surgical revision of the socket. In two cases, the exposures were large enough that removal of the implant was indicated, one after evisceration and the other after enucleation with placement of a wrapped PP sphere. CONCLUSIONS: Our series revealed no significant difference in exposure rate between wrapped and unwrapped PP sphere implants, nor was the exposure rate affected by whether an eye was eviscerated or enucleated.     

Mersilene mesh versus sclera in wrapping hydroxyapatite orbital implants

PURPOSE: To compare Mersilene mesh versus sclera in wrapping hydroxyapatite orbital implants used in primary enucleation. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, interventional comparative case series, 60 eyes from 60 consecutive patients were included and randomly allocated for primary enucleation and either Mersilene mesh-wrapped hydroxyapatite (MHA) orbital implant (30 cases, 50%) or sclera-wrapped hydroxyapatite (SHA) orbital implant (30 cases, 50%) under general anesthesia. Complete socket examination was performed at 1 week, 1 month, and then every 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Mean age was not significantly different (P = 0.08) between patients with MHA (36.43 years) and SHA (28.50 years) orbital implants. The most common cause of enucleation was trauma in both groups (P = 0.09). Patients with MHA had significantly (P = 0.005) longer follow-up time (mean, 11.40 months) than those with SHA (mean, 9.40 months). No exposure was found at last follow-up in the MHA group, but one patient in the SHA group had a small exposure (1 x 1 mm) 1 month after surgery that was conservatively treated. There were no significant postoperative soft tissue complications in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Sclera and Mersilene mesh could be used as a wrapping material for hydroxyapatite orbital implants without significant complications. Absence of disease transmission, low cost, and availability are the main advantages of Mersilene mesh.     

UK national survey of enucleation, evisceration and orbital implant trends

AIM: To evaluate current clinical practice in the UK in the management of the anophthalmic socket; choice of enucleation, evisceration, type of orbital implant, wrap, motility pegging and complications. METHODS: All consultant ophthalmologists in the UK were surveyed by postal questionnaire. Questions included their practice subspecialty and number of enucleations and eviscerations performed in 2003. Specific questions addressed choice of implant, wrap, motility pegging and complications. RESULTS: 456/896 (51%) consultants responded, of which 162 (35%) had a specific interest in oculoplastics, lacrimal, orbits or oncology. Only 243/456 (53%) did enucleations or eviscerations. 92% inserted an orbital implant after primary enucleation, 69% after non-endophthalmitis evisceration, whereas only 43% did so after evisceration for endophthalmitis (50% as a delayed procedure). 55% used porous orbital implants (porous polyethylene, hydroxyapatite or alumina) as their first choice and 42% used acrylic. Most implants inserted were spherical, sized 18-20 mm in diameter. 57% wrapped the implant after enucleation, using salvaged autogenous sclera (20%), donor sclera (28%) and synthetic Vicryl or Mersilene mesh (42%). A minority (7%) placed motility pegs in selected cases, usually as a secondary procedure. 14% of respondents reported implant exposure for each type of procedure and extrusion was reported by 4% after enucleation and 3% after evisceration. CONCLUSIONS: This survey highlights contemporary anophthalmic socket practice in the UK. Most surgeons use porous orbital implants with a synthetic wrap after enucleation and only few perform motility pegging.     

Enucleation with on-the-table evisceration. Is it a good technique?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical technique of enucleation followed by an "on-the-table evisceration" and placement of a hydroxyapatite orbital implant wrapped by the patient's own sclera for the treatment of blind phthisis painful eyes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, 50 consecutive patients undergoing an operation using the same surgical technique, between April 1993 and November 1999, were studied. Patients underwent enucleation, then the eyeball was eviscerated "on the table". The patient's own cleaned sclera was used to wrap a hydroxyapatite orbital implant, the posterior pole of the sclera was placed at the anterior pole of the implant. Conjunctival breakdown, sphere size, conjunctival discharge, the first signs of sympathetic ophthalmia motility, and cosmetic results were analysed. RESULTS: After an average follow-up of 13.3 months few complications were encountered: 4 cases (8%) of inclusion cyst and 3 cases (6%) of discharge. The implant placed had a diameter of 18 mm, 20 mm, 22 mm in, respectively, 48%, 48%, and 4% of the eyes. The prosthesis motility was good, medium, and poor in, respectively, 33 (78.6%) cases, 8 (19%) cases, and 1 (2.4%) case. The prosthesis tolerance was good, medium, and poor in respectively 86%, 10%, and 4% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The surgical technique of enucleation followed by an "on-the-table" evisceration and autologous sclera wrapping a hydroxyapatite implant is an easy procedure. It allows, on phthisis eyeballs, the placement of a large orbital implant for good cosmesis results, without major complications.     

Micropulse laser trabeculoplasty under maximal tolerable glaucoma eyedrops: treatment effectiveness and impact of surgical expertise

AIM:To evaluate the effectiveness of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty(MLT)for eyes with open angle glaucoma(OAG)under maximal tolerable glaucoma eyedrops and to assess the effect of expertise performing MLT on its clinical effectiveness.METHODS:Medical records of 42 consecutive eyes of 34 patients diagnosed with OAG who underwent MLT were retrospectively reviewed.The effectiveness was determined using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Failure was defined as an intraocular pressure(IOP)reduction of<20%from baseline,an IOP>21 mm Hg during two consecutive follow-up visits,or surgical intervention for OAG.To determine the impact of MLT surgical expertise on clinical effectiveness,the eyes were divided into two groups according to whether the procedure was conducted by an experienced specialist(defined as a glaucoma specialist who had conducted at least ten MLT procedures)or a less experienced glaucoma specialist.The difference in expertise was determined using a log-rank test.RESULTS:MLT was conducted by three glaucoma specialists.The overall survival rates were 0.76,0.48,and 0.44 at 1,3,and 6 mo,respectively.The survival rates for MLT performed by a less experienced glaucoma specialist were 0.62,0.31,and 0.25(n=21 eyes)at 1,3,and 6 mo,respectively,whereas the survival rates for MLT performed by an experienced glaucoma specialist were 0.90,0.64,and 0.64(n=21 eyes)at 1,3,and 6 mo,respectively.The log-rank test showed a significant difference in the survival curves of the two groups(P=0.0061).CONCLUSION:The 6-month effectiveness of MLT for controlling IOP is relatively limited in eyes with OAG using maximal tolerable glaucoma eyedrops.However,its effectiveness may be improved if performed by a glaucoma specialist with sufficient MLT experience.     

Evisceration and secondary enucleation with implantation following endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: Primary evisceration followed by secondary enucleation and implant placement makes it possible to use the sclera of a patient with endophthalmitis. This sclera will be used for secondary implantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four patients with endophthalmitis and corneal perforation (bacterial infection in three cases and fungal infection in one case) underwent evisceration and, 4-6 weeks later, enucleation. During the secondary enucleation, the sclera was recovered and used as wrapping material for the alumina implant (Al2O3) (20 and 22 mm in diameter). Between the two operations, the patients were treated with systemic and topical antibiotics or antifungal agents. RESULTS: No complications were observed for both the first and the second operation. Enucleated sclera was crumpled and bent in all four cases. The sclera was spread out and used as wrapping material. Prosthetic fitting was performed 4-5 weeks after the second operation. No complications have been observed to date (10 to 32 months follow-up). CONCLUSION: Primary implantation following endophthalmitis is debatable because an infectious complication cannot be excluded. The use of sclera for implant wrapping decreases the risk of implant extrusion, especially when the conjunctiva and Tenon's facia have been weakened by previous surgery or infection. Primary evisceration with a conformer placement followed by enucleation and implantation is an ideal solution in endophthalmitis because this technique allows the use of patient's own sclera.     

121例多孔聚乙烯义眼座眶内植入的临床分析

目的 评价高密度多孔聚乙烯义眼座(Medpor)HN内植入的疗效及其并发症.方法 回顾分析2003年3月至2006年3月期间眶内植入多孔聚乙烯义眼座121例,男性91例,女性30例,平均年龄29岁(6～53岁).其中眼球摘除术后Ⅰ期植入20例,眼球内容剜除术后Ⅰ期植入54例,Ⅱ期植入47例.结果 随诊时间6～36个月,平均随访时间18个月.121例均取得满意效果,结膜创口愈合好,义眼座无脱出,无暴露及感染.义眼座植入眼眶后活动度较好,所配带的义眼外观满意.结论 Medpor义眼座眶内植入可明显地矫正眼窝凹陷,可采用自体巩膜包裹或者直接眶内植入,术后义眼座活动度好,并发症少.是一种理想的眶内植入物材料.     

Porous polyethylene orbital implant in the pediatric population

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of complications of primary insertion of porous polyethylene orbital implant in the pediatric population. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Prospective nonrandomized case series of 36 eyes of 36 patients under age 15 years who underwent primary placement of an anteriorly wrapped spherical porous polyethylene orbital implant from March 1998 to August 2002, with at least 17 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 4.6 years. The histopathologic diagnoses after enucleation included intraocular tumor in 22 patients, phthisis bulbi in eight patients, microphthalmos in three patients, Coats disease in two patients, and ruptured traumatic globe in one patient. Twelve patients (33%) had prior ocular surgery. At the time of enucleation, all patients underwent primary placement of spherical porous polyethylene orbital implant anteriorly wrapped with homologous sclera in 30 patients (83%) and autologous sclera in six patients (17%). The spherical implant size was 16 mm in one patient (3%), 18 mm in 10 patients ( 28%), and 20 mm in 25 patients (69%). The prosthesis was fitted after a mean interval of 5 weeks. After a mean follow-up of 44 months (range, 17 to 68 months), there was one case of pyogenic granuloma (3%) and one case of implant exposure (3%). There were no cases of implant extrusion, superior sulcus syndrome, orbital cellulitis, or significant inflammatory response. No porous polyethylene orbital implant was drilled for peg placement. CONCLUSIONS: Anteriorly wrapped primary porous polyethylene orbital implant in the pediatric population appears to be well tolerated with few complications.     

眼内容剜除联合多孔羟基磷灰石义眼座植入术临床分析

目的：评价眼内容剜除术联合羟基磷灰石（Hydroxyapatite HA)义眼座植入术的疗效和安全性。方法：1998．1－2000．5在本中心接受眼内容剜除联合HA植入术的78例病例进行回顾性分析。收集各病例临床资料、手术指征、义眼座的大小、手术疗效和术后并发症。平均随诊时间11．6月（2－24月）。结果：本组共78例患者接受眼内容剜除联合HA植入术,全部病例均获得手术成功。术后无一例患者出现义眼座外露、脱出、移位等并发症。随诊期间无交感性眼炎发生。结论：在严格选择手术适应症的条件下,眼内容剜除术联合HA后置植入术是一种安全而有效的治疗部份无光感疼痛性眼球或萎缩眼球的方法。     

Consideration for eliminating conjunctival closure in the enucleation procedure

To compare post-operative results and complications in patients who undergo enucleation with or without suture closure of the conjunctiva. This was a retrospective chart review study. Review of 50 cases of enucleation surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital between July 2011 and December 2014. Criteria for inclusion in the study were all cases of enucleation that had extraocular muscles attached to a spherical orbital implant with or without conjunctival closure, and at least 2 months of postoperative follow up. Post-operative complications were evaluated. A total of 36 cases fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study; 12 cases with direct sutured layered direct closure of Tenon's and then conjunctiva and 24 cases with Tenon's capsule sutured closure but without direct conjunctival sutured closure. No implant complications were identified in either group (p = 1.0). Mean follow-up for all groups was 16.71 months (range 2 to 43 mo., SD 11.94). Mean follow up for the non-closure group was 14.42 months (range 2.25 to 36 mo., SD 10.35). Two cases in the conjunctival closure group developed a conjunctival cyst, affecting prosthesis fit, approximately 3 months postoperatively: no such cysts were identified in the non-conjunctival closure group. Fisher exact test for cyst formation between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.1048). Direct conjunctival closure following enucleation surgery does not appear to increase the risk of extrusion, exposure, or infection. Foregoing direct closure decreases surgical time and reduces cost. It is unclear if this decreases conjunctival cyst formation.     

Auricular cartilage versus donor sclera as a wrapping of hydroxyapatite orbital implants

AIM: To retrospectively compare postoperative outcomes after primary enucleation and placement of a hydroxyapatite(HA) implant without wrapping, wrapped with auricular cartilage or donor sclera. METHODS: Medical records of patients presented as intraocular tumor or severe ocular injury were identified from the electronic medical record system. Cases underwent enucleation and HA orbital implantation were enrolled in this study and were divided into 3 groups according to the wrapping material of HA implant. Cases with autogenous cartilage caps were enrolled in group A(n=11), with donor sclera caps in group B(n=12), and without any wrapping material in group C(n=9). Follow-ups were set at 1, 2 wk, 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo after surgery.RESULTS: Altogether 32 cases finished the followup and were enrolled in this study. Three cases(27.27%) in group A, 4 cases(33.33%) in group B, and 4 cases(44.44%) in group C developed one complication each after surgery. In group A, no HA exposure occurred, but conjunctival inclusion cyst occurred in one and severe conjunctive chemosis in two cases. In group B, one HA exposure occurred, conjunctive inclusion cysts occurred in one, severe conjunctive chemosis occurred in one, and conjunctival granuloma occurred in one case. In group C, one HA exposure occurred, severe conjunctive chemosis occurred in two cases, and conjunctival granuloma occurred in one case. The case of exposure of none-wrapped implant was noted in the first 6 mo after placement of the orbital implant. The case of exposure of donor sclerawrapped implant was noted at the 12 mo after placement of the orbital implant. Both exposure cases were treated successfully with conservative treatment.CONCLUSION: With low incidence of implant exposure and mild complications, auricular cartilage can be a good choice of alternative wrapping material of orbit implant with satisfied outcome.     

Autogenous temporalis fascia patch graft for porous polyethylene (Medpor) sphere orbital implant exposure

BACKGROUND: Temporalis fascia has been recommended for hydroxyapatite sphere exposure. The aim of this study was to identify potential risk factors for exposure of porous polyethylene (Medpor) sphere implants and evaluate the use of autogenous temporalis fascia as a patch graft for exposure. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive cases of porous polyethylene sphere orbital implant exposure. RESULTS: Five cases presented between May 2000 and October 2001 (three males, two females; mean age 44.5 years). Three had enucleation (two with primary implants) and two had evisceration (one with primary implant). Exposure occurred in one primary, two secondary, and two replacement implants. Orbital implant diameter was 20 mm in four cases and 16 mm in one case (contracted socket). The mean time from implantation to exposure was 23 months (range 0.7-42.6). Three patients had secondary motility peg placement before exposure. The average time from last procedure (sphere implant or peg insertion) to exposure was 3 months (range 0.7-12.6). Four patients required surgical intervention, of which three needed more than one procedure. Autogenous temporalis fascia grafting successfully closed the defect without re-exposure in three of these four patients. The grafts were left bare in three patients, with a mean time to conjunctivalise of 2.4 months (range 1.6-3.2). CONCLUSIONS: Exposed porous polyethylene sphere implants were treated successfully with autogenous temporalis fascia graft in three of four patients. This technique is useful, the graft easy to harvest, and did not lead to prolonged socket inflammation, infection, or extrusion.     

Porous polyethylene (Medpor) orbital implant. Prospective study of 75 primary implantations

PURPOSE: To examine the incidence of orbital complications in patients who underwent primary placement of a porous polyethylene implant (Medpor) after enucleation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective non randomized case series of 75 consecutive patients in whom a porous polyethylene (PP) spherical implant wrapped with homologous sclera was implanted after enucleation. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of enucleation was 42.7 years (range, 1.4 to 80 years). The histopathological diagnoses after enucleation included uveal melanoma in 28 patients, retinoblastoma in 11 patients, phthisis bulbi in 23 patients, neovascular glaucoma in 5 patients, endophthalmitis in 3 patients, ruptured traumatic globe in 2 patients, microphthalmos in two patients, and medulloepithelioma in one patient. Thirty-four patients (45%) had had prior ocular surgery. The prosthesis was fitted after a mean interval of 4.5 weeks (range, 3 to 10 weeks). After a mean follow-up of 20 months (range, 3 to 33 months), there was one case (1%) of conjunctival dehiscence with material exposure secondary to massive postoperative orbital hemorrhage 2 weeks after enucleation. There was no case of orbital cellulitis, implant extrusion, or significant inflammatory response. No PP implant was drilled for peg placement. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSIONS: The anteriorly wrapped porous polyethylene orbital (Medpor) sphere appears to be well tolerated by all age groups with no major complication in primary implantation after enucleation.     

A Histopathologic Study of Orbital Implant Vascularization

Purpose: To histopathologically assess the extent and pattern of vascularization of explanted porous polyethylene (PP) and hyrdoxyapatite (HA) orbital implants. To compare the vascularization in PP implants harvested after enucleation versus after evisceration. Methods: This is a comparative case series of six orbital implants explanted between 11 months and 5 years and 4 months post implantation. The implants were subjected to histopathological examination with various stains, after complete decalcification. Results: There were 2 post evisceration, 3 post enucleation and 1 secondary implant. The size of the implants varied from 18 to 23 mm diameter. The reason for explantation was exposure in all the 6 cases with additional infection in 2 cases. Histopathology revealed complete vascularization up to the core of the implant in all the cases. There was evidence of chronic inflammation within all the explanted specimens. Acute inflammation was present at the site of exposure in four of the implants. Three of these implants had additional evidence of necrosis. Two cases with clinically evident infection had Gram positive cocci within the implant. Foreign-body type giant-cells, melanophages and haemosiderin laden macrophages were also observed. Eviscerated specimens showed scleral remodelling and thickening. Conclusion: All the implants were vascularized up to the core. There was histologic evidence of chronic inflammation in all the explanted implants possibly indicating the foreign nature of the implant material. The sclera did not impede vascularization of the implants in eviscerated specimens. We found no difference in the degree of vascularization of the implant in enucleated versus eviscerated implants.     

Autologous sclera-muscle flaps technique in evisceration with hydroxyapatite implantation

AIM: To provide superior cosmetic results and reduce complications, unlike traditional evisceration coupled with implant insertion technique and its modifications, we have developed a novel and simple technique for anophthalmic patients.METHODS: All patients who underwent the scleral-muscle flaps procedure in evisceration with the placement of hydroxyapatite implant were included in the study. Main outcome measures were complications such as exposure, infection, chemosis, conjunctival inclusion cysts, granulomas. Meanwhile, implant motility was indirectly measured and the results were collected and analyzed.RESULTS: A total of twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the study. Eighteen were men (64.29%) and ten were women (35.71%). Ages ranged from 18 to 65y (mean age, 32 years old). Mean follow-up was 12.32mo (range, 9-16mo). All patients received a hydroxyapatite implant. The average diameter of the implant was 19.29±1.36 mm (range, 18-22 mm). Minor complications occurred in 3 patients, and a major complication was observed in 1 patient. Mean motility were 11.04±1.45 mm horizontally (range, 7-14 mm) and 8.57±1.50 mm vertically (range, 5-12 mm).CONCLUSION: The sclera-muscle flaps technique in evisceration with hydroxyapatite implantation is simple and practical that eases the surgical procedure, enables a proper size hydroxyapatite implantation, distinctively reduces complications and provides superior surgery results, especially the motility of the implant.     

Painful blind eye: efficacy of enucleation and evisceration in resolving ocular pain

AIMS: To assess the effectiveness of enucleation or evisceration in relieving pain from painful blind eyes. METHODS: 24 patients with intractable ocular pain underwent enucleation or evisceration with or without an orbital implant. RESULTS: Complete pain relief was achieved in all patients at an average time of 3 months (range 1-15 months). Seven patients required further medical or surgical treatment in addition to removal of the globe. CONCLUSION: Enucleation and evisceration were effective in relieving ocular pain in all patients with a painful blind eye in our study. However, complications of surgery and orbital implants can cause recurrent pain.     

Management of porous polyethylene implant exposure in patients with retinoblastoma following enucleation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the features and the management of porous polyethylene implant exposure in patients with retinoblastoma following enucleation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 33 patients (33 sockets) following enucleation and porous polyethylene implantation for retinoblastoma were reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age at enucleation was 24 months (range, 2 to 85 months). The exposure rate was 33% (11 cases), and the mean time from enucleation to exposure was 15 months (range, 7 to 29 months). One case was resolved only by supportive management, and the remaining 10 were successfully treated with a scleral patch graft and maintained well during a mean follow-up of 15 months after surgical repair. There was no statistical evidence that age, gender, implant size, or chemotherapy had an effect on implant exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Porous polyethylene implant exposure does not seem to be resolved by conservative management. We recommend early surgical management, such as scleral patch graft, as opposed to supportive management.     

Evisceration with Primary Orbital Implant in Fulminant Endophthalmitis/Panophthalmitis

Purpose: To compare the outcome of evisceration with primary orbital implant in blind eyes with and without fulminant infection (endophthalmitis/panophthalmitis).

Methods: Retrospective nonrandomized comparative interventional case series. Patients with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 6 months were considered for inclusion. Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients were included. Sixteen eyes were infective and 18 noninfective. Nonporous silicone implants were used for all cases and the main outcome measure was successful retention of the primary implant. Major and minor complications and successful prosthesis fitting were also noted.

Results: All except 3 cases were able to retain the primary implant successfully and all but 2 patients underwent successful prosthesis fitting. Major complications included implant extrusion in 3 cases (2 infective, 1 noninfective) and implant exposure in 1 case (noninfective). The difference in major complications between the groups was not statistically significant (p?=?0.66, Fisher exact test).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that evisceration with primary orbital implant is a feasible option in fulminant endophthalmitis/panophthalmitis and provides a good postoperative cosmetic outcome to the anophthalmic socket at an economical cost.