An infected porous polyethylene orbital implant.
A 75-year-old man underwent enucleation with placement of a porous polyethylene orbital implant (Medpor, Porex Technologies, Fairburn, GA, U.S.A.). Over the next 5 years, he was seen on numerous occasions with socket discharge that was unresponsive to a variety of eyedrops. Exposure and re-exposure of the implant occurred, and the implant was removed. Histopathologic assessment was consistent with an infectious process within the implant. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms and signs resolved. Porous orbital implant infection is rare. The diagnosis may be delayed as the initial symptoms and signs (discharge, conjunctival inflammation) may easily be attributed to prosthesis wear. With time, and persistence of the symptoms despite numerous treatments, infection should be suspected.
Jordan
David R
DR
Department of Ophthalmology (Eye Institute), University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Brownstein
Seymour
S
Rawlings
Nigel
N
Robinson
Jennifer
J
D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D020273:Orbital Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011095:Polyethylenes; D016062:Porosity; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
C084562:Medpor; D011095:Polyethylenes