Extended orbital exenteration, epithetic restoration, and patient supply: A cross-sectional study of a historic cohort.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course and to redefine an optimized algorithm for OE cases until epithetic restoration.

METHODS

Indication, defect type according to Kesting, reconstructive technique, incidence of postoperative complications and peri-implantitis, patients' quality of life, timing of periorbital implant insertion, incidence of and interval to implant loss, and time until epithetic restoration were analyzed in 43 patients.

RESULTS

A significant correlation was detected between wound dehiscence and defect type. Out of 24 patients, 7 were implanted secondarily with a median time interval of 399 days (270-2015) after OE. Eleven out of 83 placed implants were lost in 8 patients with a median time interval of 586 days (264-4485) after insertion. The majority of epithesis carriers had no or few restrictions in their quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend our modified treatment algorithm to further improve and shorten the clinical course.