Background: When using upper-lid gold implants in facial palsy, a certain percentage of undesired effects and complications are known to occur (eg, astigmatism, pseudoptosis, migration, bulging, and extrusion). Our flexible platinum chain implant adapts better to the changing radius of the tarsus with movement of the globe and reduces the complication rate. Platinum implants are smaller, owing to their higher density.
Objective: To compare the results with 33 gold and 30 platinum chain implantations.
Methods: Clinical follow-up study at a university otorhinolaryngology department. The mean follow-up was 11 months in the gold-implant group and 9 months in the platinum-implant group. The treatment consisted of pretarsal fixation of the metal weights to the upper lid.
Main outcome measures: Criteria for evaluation of results include reduction of lagophthalmos and keratopathy and gain of visual acuity. Complications that have been assessed include astigmatism, bulging, migration, pseudoptosis, and extrusion of implants. We evaluated histological samples of the implant bed and performed ultrasound measurements of the tarsal radius.
Results: The restoration of lid closure was a visual and aesthetic improvement for all patients. We found a tendency toward a higher rate of complications with gold implants compared with platinum chains, especially for astigmatism and bulging. Ultrasonographic measurements showed ongoing flexibility of the platinum chains after implantation, and histological findings confirmed their good biocompatibility.
Conclusions: Flexible platinum chain implants lead to better results with fewer complications compared with standard rigid gold implants.