Expansion of the human microphthalmic orbit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of long-term, incremental enlargement of an orbital tissue expander on bone and eyelid growth in microphthalmia.


METHODS
A prospective, noncomparative case series.


METHODS
Five consecutive patients with microphthalmos treated with orbital expansion were evaluated.


METHODS
A tissue expander was placed into the orbits of five children (age, 10 months-6 years) with unilateral microphthalmos and gradually enlarged by saline injections.


METHODS
The midorbital width of each patient was determined from axial computed tomographic scans before insertion of the device. The length of the normal and abnormal eyelid fissures was measured at surgery. The postexpansion dimensions of both the normal and microphthalmic orbits and the eyelids were remeasured when the expanders were removed. The residual deficits between the normal and the microphthalmic sides were expressed in percentages.


RESULTS
Gradual inflation of the expander to a diameter of 22 mm reduced the average preoperative orbital dimension deficit of the group from 14.6% (range, 8%-25%) to 3.8% after surgery (range, 0.5%-6.3%). The average pre-expansion eyelid length deficit for the group was 17.5% (range, 12%-26%) compared to 2.3% (range, 0.0%-5.3%) after expansion. The average expansion period was 56.8 weeks (range, 20-100 weeks). Two outpatient surgical procedures were required in each patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Incremental inflation of a tissue expander placed within the microphthalmic orbit induced sufficient osseous and eyelid growth to ameliorate the major stigmata of this syndrome in all patients treated.
Gossman
M D
MD
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Kentucky, USA.
Mohay
J
J
Roberts
D M
DM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008850:Microphthalmos / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed