Usefulness of palatal mucoperiosteal grafts for artificial eye socket contracture.

The authors performed palatal mucoperiosteal grafting for contracture of the artificial eye socket in 4 patients. Mucoperiosteal grafts were collected from the paramedian area of the hard palate. After release of contracture, the grafts were sutured with absorbable thread to the defective areas on the conjunctival side of the artificial eye socket after release of contracture. All patients showed mucoperiosteal graft survival without problems, no recurrence of contracture, and good courses of artificial eye wear. The mucoperiosteal donor areas showed closed healing after 3 to 4 weeks. Palatal mucoperiosteal grafts can be collected en bloc and are relatively rigid, which allows the simultaneous reconstruction of the conjunctival side and supportive tissue of the eyelid. Although the size of graft collection is limited, grafts with adequate size for partial reconstruction can be collected. Mucoperiosteal grafts are a good reconstruction material for contracture of the artificial eye socket.