title: Digital evaluation of orbital development after self-inflating hydrogel expansion in Chinese children with congenital microphthalmia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of the growth of bony orbit in children with blind microphthalmia is essential to its management. In this study, variables were measured to evaluate the development of the bony microphthalmic orbits after treatment with self-inflating hydrogel expanders.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study with an interventional case series. Thirteen pediatric patients with congenital unilateral blind microphthalmia who had undergone tissue expansion with hydrogel expanders and computed tomography (CT) scanning before and after operation were included in the study. The orbital volume, depth, width, and height and retardation of the orbital rims before and after treatment were measured and analyzed using the iPlan Cranial Software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at the time of first implantation was 44 months (range, 3-113 months). Of the 13 patients, eleven received orbital expansion, while two received socket expansion. In the orbital expansion group, the mean microphthalmic/contralateral ratio (MCR) of orbital volume was 79.3% before surgery, which increased to 89.8% 3 years post operation (P < 0.001). The mean MCR of orbital width also increased from 88.8% to 91.8% (P = 0.003). The development of inferior and lateral rims showed the greatest retardation before treatment; the retardation of these two rims decreased significantly at the final measurement (P = 0.004). It is also noted that the development of the microphthalmic orbits was limited in the two patients who only underwent socket expansion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The affected orbit enlarged in children with congenital blind microphthalmia following treatment with hydrogel expanders; this suggested that microphthalmia-associated orbital asymmetry can be treated with self-inflating hydrogel expanders.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, and Beijing Ophthalmology Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhijia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Junfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Qinglin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, and Beijing Ophthalmology Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, China. Electronic address: weiwenbintr@163.com.
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, and Beijing Ophthalmology Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, China. Electronic address: ldmlily@x263.net.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008850:Microphthalmos / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D009929:Organ Size; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: Congenital microphthalmia; Orbital development; Orbital measurement; Self-inflating hydrogel