Conjunctival melting syndrome associated with the use of bovine pericardium wrapping material.

PURPOSE: To report 18 cases of unusually large, early conjunctival breakdown occurring with the use of bovine pericardium wrapping material for orbital implants.

METHODS

Retrospective case series. The clinical course and histopathologic features of 18 cases of early conjunctival breakdown in patients who had undergone orbital implantation of bovine pericardium-wrapped hydroxyapatite or porous polyethylene are reviewed.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients presented with unusually large (average 13.44 mm) conjunctival defects over bovine pericardium-wrapped implants. The average time from enucleation to exposure was approximately 4 months. Implants had to be removed in 8 of 18 cases. There was clinical and histologic evidence of tissue inflammation and conjunctival melting.

CONCLUSIONS

The conjunctival melting phenomenon we report herein is alarming. We have abandoned the use of bovine pericardium as a wrapping material for implants after enucleation because of the unfavorable results.