title: Hydroxyapatite orbital implant exposure in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hydroxyapatite orbital implants are buried implants that may be integrated into the overlying prosthesis after enucleation. We report problems encountered using these implants during a 14-year period in a pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of a pediatric population from 1987 through 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indications for enucleation (N = 19) included retinoblastoma (n =17), persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (n =1), and painful blind eye (n =1). Conjunctival erosion (36.84%) and consequent implant exposure (15.70%) were the main problems identified in this study. There were no cases of orbital infection. Management included resuturing and scleral patching.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conjunctival erosion of hydroxyapatite implants contributed to significant morbidity in 19 children who underwent enucleation and hydroxyapatite orbital implant.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
authors.forename: Loretta M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'keefe
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lanigan
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017886:Durapatite / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020273:Orbital Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite