Comparison of Pneumatic Retinopexy with Scleral Buckling in the Management of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments

ABSTRACT

Pneumatic retinopexy(PR) is an alternative procedure to treat an uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with the retinal tear(s) within the superior 8 clock hours of the retina. To determine the efficacy of the PR, the authors treated 45 consecutive retinal detachment not exceeding proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C2 with PR(PR group) and compared the results with those of 63 similar cases treated with scleral buckling procedure(SB group). Initially, 87% of PR group and 91% of SB group were reattached. However, overall cure rates with single operation decreased to 789,6 and 83%, respectively. With subsequent procedures, retinas were finally reattached in 98% and 94%, respectively. In eyes with preoperative macular detachment, vision was similarly improved 2 lines or more in 73% of PR group and in 77% of SB group after surgery. The incidence of the new breaks was higher in PR group than in SB group(9% vs 5%). Other postoperative complications including reopening of original tear, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and delayed resorption of subretinal fluid were also noted with similar frequency in both group. These data suggest that PR would be a good alternative procedure in the selected cases of retinal detachments and initial failure with this procedure does not adversely affect the final retinal attachment.