Rescue of exposed scleral buckles with cadaveric pericardial patch grafts.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new method for salvaging externally exposed silicone scleral exoplants (buckles) to avoid removal and the consequent risk of retinal redetachment.


METHODS
A retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Four patients with exposed, clinically uninfected scleral buckles after initial surgery for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.


METHODS
Processed human donor pericardium patch grafts (Tutoplast; Innovative Ophthalmic Products, INC:, Costa Mesa, CA) were used to cover exposed areas of scleral buckles in concert with conjunctivoplasty.


METHODS
Scleral buckle preservation was the goal of this new treatment strategy.


RESULTS
In four eyes treated with pericardial patch grafts to cover segments of exposed scleral buckles, three (75%) were managed successfully with one surgery. One eye (25%) had this treatment method fail and required scleral buckle removal.


CONCLUSIONS
Processed human donor pericardium patch grafting is one useful way to avoid removing exposed scleral buckles, and consequently, sparing patients the risk of recurrent retinal detachment.
Weissgold
D J
DJ
Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
Millay
R H
RH
Bochow
T A
TA
D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012591:Scleral Buckling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous