Comparison of experimental porous silicone implants and porous silicone implants.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the extent and pattern of fibrovascular ingrowth of porous silicone sphere implants compared to porous polyethylene implants.


METHODS
Experimental porous silicone sphere implants and porous polyethylene implants were implanted in the left socket of 20 New Zealand white rabbits after enucleation. Fibrovascular ingrowth and maturation was evaluated at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation by histopathologic examination and scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
At 4 weeks after surgery, porous polyethylene implants showed deeper fibrovascular ingrowth than porous silicone sphere implants; 42.4% versus 34.2% of radius of the implants respectively (p = 0.047). However there was no significant difference in the depth of fibrovascular ingrowth between the two groups at 8 weeks after implantation, although porous polyethylene implants showed deeper fibrovascular ingrowth than porous silicone sphere implants; 71.6% versus 63.6% (p = 0.102).


CONCLUSIONS
Porous silicone orbital implants demonstrated a comparable extent of fibrovascular ingrowth to that for porous polyethylene implants. Therefore, this new porous silicone sphere implant may be a good candidate to substitute for current porous implants at a lower cost.
Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
JunHyuk
J
Son
Chang-sik
CS
Kim
JaeWook
J
Yang
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery*; D020273:Orbital Implants; D011095:Polyethylenes; D016062:Porosity; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011817:Rabbits; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C084562:Medpor; D011095:Polyethylenes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers