title: Cutting and pasting corneas: combination of a corneal allograft with relocation of a crescent of autologous corneal tissue in therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPKP) technique that achieves satisfactory visual rehabilitation with a minimal risk of rejection is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient presented with a central corneal perforation in the left eye extending to the temporal limbus. We performed a novel surgical procedure, in which a corneal allograft was combined with relocation of a crescent of autologous corneal tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TPKP placed the optical zone of the donor cornea over the center of the entrance pupil. The chances of an immunologic rejection were minimized by intercalating a crescent of autologous tissue between the allograft and the limbal vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of an allograft with a crescent of autologous corneal tissue minimizes the disadvantages associated with eccentric or oversized trephination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Claerhout
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanden Broecke
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kestelyn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous