Combined use of bulbar conjunctival pedicle flap and labial mucous membrane graft for porous orbital implant exposure: Long-term outcome

ABSTRACT

Implant exposure is the most common serious complication of porous orbital implants, and often requires surgical repair. This study aims to describe a new repair technique using a bulbar conjunctival pedicle flap and a labial mucous membrane patch graft, as well as to report its long-term results. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients whose porous orbital implant exposures were repaired using this technique from 1995 to 2014. Twenty-three patients were included. The maximal defect dimension ranged from 2 to 18 mm. Sixteen patients (70%) also received a banked human scleral patch graft during their repair. The mean follow-up was 130 months (range 29–267 months). Eighteen patients (78%) were successfully treated with one repair surgery. At the final follow-up, 21 patients (91%) could comfortably wear a prosthetic eye, and 18 patients (78%) reported satisfactory cosmesis. Two patients (9%) developed small conjunctival cysts that were successfully excised. The combination of a bulbar conjunctival pedicle flap and a labial mucous membrane patch graft is a simple but effective technique in salvaging exposed porous orbital implants. Its long-term results are promising.

KEYWORDS:

• Conjunctiva
• exposure
• hydroxyapatite
• mucous membrane
• orbital implants

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.