Polytetrafluoroethylene as a wrapping material for a hydroxyapatite orbital implant.

PURPOSE: Porous coralline hydroxyapatite orbital implants have been used with great success in anophthalmic sockets. We used a substitute for donor sclera as a wrapping tissue.

METHODS

Orbital implants were wrapped with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) instead of homologous donor tissue in five patients after enucleation.

RESULTS

The postoperative course was uneventful in three cases. Complications occurred in two cases: one with implant exposure, and one with severe implant infection leading to its eventual removal.

CONCLUSIONS

PTFE is inferior to other wrapping tissue.