Porous polyethylene implants in orbital floor reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
Various alloplastic materials are used in orbital wall reconstruction. This study investigated the outcome of patients treated with porous polyethylene sheet implants in the reconstruction of orbital floor fracture.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients who underwent orbital reconstructions using 0.85-mm porous polyethylene sheets for the repair of orbital floor fracture were included. A transconjunctival approach was used in all patients. The mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 29.7 +/- 12.3 months. Postoperatively, results and complications such as infection and implant extrusion were followed-up on the first day, the first week, monthly for the first 3 months and then every 3-6 months thereafter.


RESULTS
All 21 patients had symptomatic diplopia before surgery. The diplopia resolved in 14 patients and improved in seven patients within the first month after surgery. All patients except one were free from diplopia at follow-up periods exceeding 6 months. Preoperative enophthalmos resolved in four of seven patients and improved in three. None of the patients developed orbital infection, implant exposure or migration, worsening diplopia, infraorbital anesthesia or loss of vision during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated that porous polyethylene implants in the repair of orbital wall fractures had good results with few complications.
Lin
I-Chan
IC
Department of Ophthalmology, Keelung Municipal Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Liao
Shu-Lang
SL
Lin
Luke L K
LL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D020273:Orbital Implants; D020959:Polyethylene; D016062:Porosity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020959:Polyethylene