Hydroxyapatite implant wrapping materials: analysis of fibrovascular ingrowth in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the influence of seven currently available spherical orbital implant wraps on host fibrovascularization of a hydroxyapatite (HA) orbital implant.


METHODS
Five groups of 3 (15 total) adult male New Zealand albino rabbits underwent enucleation with placement of a 12-mm HA implant wrapped in high-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE), processed bovine pericardium, or processed human pericardium, sclera, or fascia lata. Magnetic resonance imaging before and after the intravenous administration of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA, 0.1 mol/kg) was performed immediately before exenteration. Five rabbits (one with each of the different implant wraps) were killed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and the operated socket was exenterated. Histopathologic sections of the implants were then compared with the results of our previous study using polyglactin 910 mesh and autologous sclera as HA orbital implant wraps.


RESULTS
Complete fibrovascularization of all the implants occurred by 12 weeks; however, HA implants wrapped with sclera, polyglactin mesh, and e-PTFE appeared to undergo more rapid fibrovascularization than spheres wrapped with other materials.


CONCLUSIONS
Although all of the implant wraps studied may be suitable substitutes for donor sclera, we prefer polyglactin mesh because it is readily available, inexpensive, and without risk of transmissible diseases.
Ophthalmology Consultants of Fort Wayne, P.C., Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.
S R
SR
Klapper
D R
DR
Jordan
K
K
Punja
S
S
Brownstein
S M
SM
Gilberg
L A
LA
Mawn
S Z
SZ
Grahovac
D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D017886:Durapatite; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D020273:Orbital Implants; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011817:Rabbits; D012590:Sclera / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D017886:Durapatite