title: Restoration of the anophthalmic socket with secondary implantation of a coralline hydroxyapatite sphere.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Restoration of the anophthalmic socket to improve the aesthetic result on the face.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors describe variations in the technique of secondary orbital implantation in 10 patients using the scleral-wrapped hydroxyapatite (HA) sphere implant. Secondary implantation was performed in 4 patients without a previously inserted orbital implant, in 4 patients as an exchange procedure with a preexisting orbital implant, and in 2 patients with eviscerated eyes. Two of these patients proceeded with the drilling operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 10 patients achieved a better facial appearance. There were no postoperative complications during the follow-up period of between 6 and 53 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the authors' experience, secondary implantation of the HA sphere is a procedure of choice with no complications, but requires considerable skill and patience on the part of the surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Terzidou
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000853:Anophthalmos / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D017886:Durapatite / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020273:Orbital Implants; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C082200:coralline sulfate; D017886:Durapatite; D015032:Zinc