Clinical Effect of Porous Polyethylene (Medpor(r))Orbital Implant

ABSTRACT

Porous polyethylene (Medpor(r))implant offers several advantages over other implant materials. Its porosity allows fibrovascular ingrowth which promotes host integration, prevents migration and reduces the likelihood of opportunistic infections. The authors used the porous polyethylene (Medpor(r)) as a central orbital implant in 36 eyes of the 36 patients. They underwent enucleation (17 cases), evisceration (16 cases), and a secondary implantation (1 cases)between November 1997 and June 1999. A mean follow-up period was 8.9 months (range, 3 to 17 months). There were 5 cases of implant exposure and 4 cases of superior sulcus deformity. There were no infection of implant, implant migration, or extrusion of motility coupling post. Postoperatively, all sockets showed good to excellent motility of prosthesis. Porous polyethylene (Medpor(r))can be used successfully as an orbital implant in anophthalmic socket surgery. Its advantages over other similar implants include a significantly lower material cost and the ability to suture the extraocular muscles directly to it without the need for a covering material such as fascia or sclera.