Morphological Study of a New Orbital Implant: Hydroxyapatite-Coated Porous Alumina in Rabbit

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated the morphologic change of the hydroxyapatite(HA)-coated porous alumina as a new orbital implant when it was used in rabbit. METHODS: After evisceration of 18 eyes of 18 New Zealand white rabbits, we implanted 12 mm-diameter-sized HA-coated porous alumina with different pore sizes; 300, 500, and 800 micrometer, and then the implants were extracted back to evaluate their morphologic change according to different time interval; 2, 4, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Fibrovascularization was noted at periphery of the implant 2 weeks after implantation in all of the three groups, and to the center of the implant 4 and 12 weeks after implantation. This fibrova-scularization was most predominant in 500 micrometerpore-sized group compared to the rest two groups. CONCLUSIONS: HA-coated porous alumina showed similar appearance of fibrovascularization with relatively more affordable price and easy manufacture, compared to the other porous implants.