Safety of unwrapped spherical orbital implants.

PURPOSE: To determine the exposure rate of unwrapped spherical orbital implants after enucleation surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective review of consecutive case series. All patients undergoing orbital implantation during enucleation surgery from October 1999 to September 2003 were included. Charts were reviewed for preoperative diagnoses, type and size of implant, use of a wrapping material, and complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-six consecutive patients underwent enucleation surgery without wrapping material. Nineteen patients received porous polyethylene, 5 patients received polymethylmethacrylate, and 2 received hydroxyapatite. Mean implant diameter was 21.03 mm. Mean follow-up was 17.1 months (range, 2 to 43 months). There were no complications of implant extrusion, exposure, infection, or migration.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of unwrapped spherical orbital implants may be associated with a low rate of early exposure. Careful choice of implant type may help reduce the risk of implant exposure.