The bioceramic implant: evaluation of implant exposures in 419 implants

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Mar-Apr;26(2):80-2. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0b013e3181b80c30.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the rate of exposure in the immediate 3-month postoperative follow-up period with the rate of exposure after the immediate postoperative period in 419 anophthalmic patients with a bioceramic (aluminum oxide) orbital implant.

Methods: This is a retrospective, clinical case series of 419 patients who received a bioceramic orbital implant. All patients who presented to five oculofacial surgeons (D.J., S.G., J.D., S.K., L.M.) from January 1, 2000, to June 1, 2007, who received a bioceramic orbital implant and had a minimum of 3 months of follow-up were included in this study. The authors analyzed age, gender, type of surgery, implant size, peg system, follow-up duration, time of pegging, and problems encountered. The data from the patients with greater than 3 months of follow-up with exposure of the bioceramic implant are detailed in this report.

Results: There were 353 patients followed for 3 to 96 months with an average of 30 months of follow-up (median 23 months). Implant exposure occurred in 32/353 bioceramic implants (9.1%). Six of the 32 (19%) exposures occurred during the 90-day postoperative period (average 2.1 months). Twenty-six (81%) exposures occurred outside of the 90-day postoperative period (average 27.5 months, range 4-82 months).

Conclusions: Implant exposures can occur anytime postimplant placement. This review discovered an implant exposure rate of 9.1%, with the majority of the exposures occurring after the postoperative follow-up period. Patients with porous orbital implants should be followed on a long-term basis to detect this complication.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aluminum Oxide*
  • Biocompatible Materials*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Eye Enucleation
  • Eye Evisceration
  • Eye, Artificial
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orbit / surgery*
  • Orbital Implants*
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Prosthesis Failure*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Aluminum Oxide