Amniotic membrane transplantation for porous sphere orbital implant exposure

Objective: This study is aimed at describing the clinical outcome of amniotic membrane transplantation for exposure of porous sphere implants. Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive cases of porous sphere orbital implant exposure was carried out. Eight cases were presented between May 2004 and Oct. 2006 (5 males, 3 females; mean age 44.5 years). Six had enucleation and two had evisceration. Exposure occurred in two primary and six secondary. Orbital implant diameter was 22 mm in seven cases and 20 mm in one case. Six patients are with hydroxyapatite and two with high-density porous polyethylene (Medpor) orbital implants. The mean time from implantation to exposure was 1.1 months (range 0.8~2 months). All patients required surgical intervention. Results: The time of follow-up ranged from 3.0 to 28.0 months (mean 16.5 months). Amniotic membrane grafting successfully closed the defect without re-exposure in all of these patients. The grafts were left bare with a mean time to conjunctiva of about 1 month (range 0.8~1.5 months). Conclusion: Exposed porous sphere implants were treated successfully with amniotic membrane graft in all of patients. The graft is easy to harvest. This technique is useful, dose not lead to prolonged socket inflammation and infection, and it is valuable application extensively.