Long-term outcomes of ultra-thin porous polyethylene implants used for reconstruction of orbital floor defects.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this article is to present the long-term outcomes of ultra-thin polyethylene implants used for orbital floor reconstruction in facial trauma patients.


METHODS
From 1998 to 2004, 38 patients underwent orbital floor reconstruction with porous polyethylene implants with a mean follow-up of 4 years. A subciliary incision and preexisting facial wounds or scars were used. The boundaries of the maxillofacial injury and the orbital volumes of both orbits were assessed by computed tomography images obtained pre- and postoperatively. In all patients, ultra-thin porous polyethylene implants in various sizes were used to reconstruct the orbital floor defect.


RESULTS
None of the patients needed removal of the implants during the follow-up. The volume increase of the traumatized orbits ranged from 0.04 to 6.18 (average 3.12 +/- 1.48) mL compared with the intact orbit (P < 0.01). This difference was not significant postoperatively (P > 0.01). Postoperative ectropion in three cases was corrected under local anesthesia. Persistence of complications were as follows: enophthalmos, 3 in 28; diplopia, 1 in 16; dystopia, 1 in 4; and infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia, 3 in 31. One patient underwent late enucleation of the globe because of initial penetrating trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the use of ultra-thin porous polyethylene implants in the reconstruction of the orbital floor defects in facial trauma patients. The implants are durable in the long-term and mimic the anatomy of the thin orbital floor and avoid the morbidity of autogenous bone grafts.
Ozturk
Serdar
S
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Sengezer
Mustafa
M
Isik
S
S
Turegun
M
M
Deveci
Mustafa
M
Cil
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology; D004483:Ectropion / Q000209:etiology; D015841:Enophthalmos / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020959:Polyethylene; D011095:Polyethylenes; D016062:Porosity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013499:Surface Properties; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C084562:Medpor; D011095:Polyethylenes; D020959:Polyethylene