Effects of amniotic membrane on wound healing and adhesions in experimental strabismus surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency of amniotic membrane in prevention of adhesion formation after strabismus surgery.


METHODS
A prospective, controlled study was conducted on 20 eyes of 10 pigmented rabbits. After disinsertion of the superior rectus muscle, under the muscle insertion area to induce adhesion formation, a partial-thickness 4 x 4 mm sclerectomy was performed in both eyes. In the right eyes, a piece of appropriate size human amniotic membrane was sutured on the sclerectomy site. As the control group, left eyes were operated with a similar procedure but without amniotic membrane transplantation. After 2 months, both eyes were enucleated to perform histopathologic examination.


RESULTS
There was no adhesion between the sclera and muscle in the amniotic membrane group; however, there were various degrees of adhesions in the control group (p=0.004). Fibrosis in rectus muscle was present in 40% of the specimens in the amniotic membrane group and 90% in the control group with a higher grade (p=0.023). The mean number of inflammatory cells was significantly higher in the amniotic membrane group (p=0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results, amniotic membrane has antifibrotic effect but no anti-inflammatory effect in rabbit eyes due to possible xenograft reaction to human tissues. It is effective in prevention of adhesion formation with possible physical barrier action.
Demirel
Sibel
S
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara University - Turkey.
Atilla
Huban
H
Okcu Heper
Aylin
A
Erkam
Necile
N
D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D001684:Biological Dressings; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012599:Sclerostomy; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*