The survival of freely grafted orbital fat on porous polyethylene orbital implants in the rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long term survival of orbital fat grafted on a Medpor implant as a method of preventing porous polyethylene orbital implant (Medpor) exposure in anophthalmic sockets.


METHODS
In one orbit in each of 8 rabbits, a small amount of retrobulbar orbital fat was grafted between the anterior surface of the Medpor implant and overlying conjunctiva, during the enucleation and Medpor implantation procedure. Two rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively and grafted orbital fats were examined by light microscopy.


RESULTS
Grafted orbital fat was well-maintained at 2 and 4 weeks, postoperatively. However, fat amounts were significantly reduced at 8 weeks, and viable fat was barely visible at 12 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
In rabbits, orbital fat grafted on Medpor implants was gradually resorbed, and the fat-occupied volume was not maintained.
Kim
Nam Ju
NJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choung
Ho Kyung
HK
Khwarg
Sang In
SI
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D020273:Orbital Implants; D020959:Polyethylene; D016062:Porosity; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020959:Polyethylene