Porous polyethylene implants in orbital blow-out fractures and enophthalmos reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of porous polyethylene sheet implants in reconstruction of orbital blow-out fractures.


METHODS
Sixty-eight patients with orbital blow-out fractures were admitted in our center from December 1996 to June 2005. Porous polyethylene sheet implants were used to repair the defects of orbital wall and to correct the enophthalmos. The clinical results of extrinsic eye movement, enophthalmos, hypoglobus (vertical dystopia), visual acuity, and infraorbital nerve anesthesia were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively.


RESULTS
Patients stayed in the hospital between 4 and 10 days. The enophthalmos and hypoglobus of all 68 patients was corrected except for one. The patient needs another surgery 6 months after operation to remove a piece of Medpor because the hypoglobus was overcorrected. Diplopia was resolved in 36 of 45 patients postoperatively. Persistent diplopia was found in 9 cases that were complicated orbitozygomaticomaxillary fractures. Visual acuity was improved in 13 of 45 patients, whereas no change was observed in the others. Infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia was resolved in 32 of 43 cases 6 months after operation. Only 1 patient developed postoperative ectropion, for which local suspending was required. No infections and Medpor outcrop were seen after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Porous polyethylene sheet implant is a very reliable material for reconstruction of the orbital blow-out fractures and restoration of the orbital volume. Overcorrection of 1 to 2 mm is necessary during operation to neutralize the tissue swelling or atrophy.
Xu
Jia-jie
JJ
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Teng
Li
L
Jin
Xiao-lei
XL
Ji
Ying
Y
Lu
Jian-jian
JJ
Zhang
Bo
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D004172:Diplopia / Q000601:surgery; D004483:Ectropion / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D015841:Enophthalmos / Q000601:surgery*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011095:Polyethylenes; D016062:Porosity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000601:surgery
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C084562:Medpor; D011095:Polyethylenes; D020959:Polyethylene