Use of Polytetrafluorethylene for Delayed Adjustable Strabismus Surgery in Humans II

ABSTRACT

The author attempted to discover a method for performing delayed suture adjustment to investigate whether it actually provides more relable and stable results. In order to prevent the fromation of postoperative adhesions and delay the time of adjustment, the author used 0.1mm-thick polyteetraful-oroethylene(PTFE) as a physical barrier. PTFE was placed between the free muscle end and the sclera in 60 strabismic patients during adjustable strabismus surgery. Adjustment was not necessary in eight patients until PTFE removal. In thirteen patients, adjustment was not necessayr after first adjustment until two weeks postoperatively. PTFE was effective in delaying the adjustment after two weeks postoperatively in the remaining 39 patients. To my knowledge, this study represents the longest delayed adjustment in humans. In conclusion, PTFE can be clinically beneficial for delaying the timing of adjustment in strabismus surgery.