title: [Long-term results of amniotic membrane transplantation for conjunctival surface reconstruction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long-term results of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for conjunctival surface reconstruction after symblepharon resection and analysis the related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one cases (55 eyes) with symblepharon due to eye burns (chemical or heat) or Stevens-Johnson syndrome were selected for symblepharon resection and AMT. Ten eyes were performed within 1 year and twenty-three eyes in 1.0 to 8.0 years after chemical eye burns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Observation time varied from 26.0 to 30.0 months [mean value (27.4 +/- 2.6) months]. No necrosis and ulceration were found in all amnion grafts at the early stage after transplantation. Deep conjunctival fornix and free of eye movement were obtained in 56.4% (31/55) of those eyes received surgery. Slight symblepharon recurrence and limited eye movement restrict were revealed in 16.4% of them (9/55), Fifteen eyes of them (27.3%) shown moderate recurrence of symblepharon. The effects of AMT for those patients with different degree of symblepharon had significant difference statistically (Pearson Chi-Square, P = 0.000). The same results were observed between those patients who were performed in different time after chemical eye burns (Likelihood Ratio, P = 0.039) and with different severity of dry eye (Pearson Chi-Square, P = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amniotic membrane can be used to reconstruct ocular surface effectively, but multiple surgeries may be needed. These microenvironments such as symblepharon severity, dry eye, and whether remained partial healthy conjunctiva in the affected eyes before surgery will influence the long-term results of AMT for conjunctival surface reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Shi-You
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jia-Qi
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Long-Shan
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zu-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhi-Chong
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000601:surgery