Inadvertent scleral perforation in eye muscle versus retinal detachment buckle surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Inadvertent scleral perforation is a recognized complication of eye muscle and retinal detachment buckle surgery. If these operations are performed by the same surgeon, it is unknown which of these procedures has a higher risk of scleral perforation.


METHODS
In the period from 1999 until 2004, 427 eyes of 317 patients were operated using eye muscle surgery and 81 eyes of 80 patients with retinal detachment buckle surgery. All operations were performed by the same surgeon (JK). In a retrospective, single-center, comparative, observational study, the records of these patients were assessed to determine the number of scleral perforations with retinal damage or drainage of subretinal fluid.


RESULTS
In the group receiving retinal detachment buckle surgery there were two cases of scleral perforation. In one case, scleral perforation occurred during buckle installation and in the other case during placement of a cerclage. The rate of scleral perforation was 2.5 % per patient and per eye in this group. In the group receiving eye muscle surgery no scleral perforations occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of scleral perforations was higher in retinal detachment buckle surgery than in eye muscle surgery, with all procedures having been performed by the same surgeon.
Kuchenbecker
Jörn
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg and Eye Hospital, HELIOS Hospitals, Berlin-Buch, Germany. jkuchenbecker@berlin.helios-kliniken.de
Schmitz
Klaus
K
Behrens-Baumann
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012590:Sclera / Q000293:injuries*; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*