A new titanium peg system for hydroxyapatite orbital implants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a new hydroxyapatite-coated titanium sleeve and titanium peg system for HA orbital implants. METHODS: The authors followed 54 patients receiving an HA-coated titanium sleeve and peg system and analyzed the complications associated with this peg system. The following data were recorded: type of surgery performed, size of implant used, type of HA used, time of pegging, follow-up duration, problems encountered, and treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients received the HA-coated titanium peg and sleeve system. The average duration of follow-up was 15 months (range, 3-30 months). Three patients were lost to follow-up after 1 month. Complications associated with peg placement in 54 patients included: discharge (9.2%), pyogenic granulomas (14.8%), peg falling out during prosthesis removal (9.2%), poor transfer of movement (1.8%), clicking (3.7%), conjunctiva overgrowing peg (1.8%), part of sleeve shaft visible (9.2%), peg drilled on an angle (1.8%), HA visible around peg hole (3.7%), and loose sleeve (3.7%). CONCLUSION: The HA-coated titanium sleeve and titanium peg is a new peg system available for HA orbital implants. Many of the complications associated with this peg system are similar to the commonly used polycarbonate peg system. Pyogenic granulomas and discharge, however, appear to be less frequently encountered with this new system. The HA-coated titanium sleeve and titanium pegs were well tolerated and appeared quieter in the socket than most polycarbonate pegs.

Hydroxyapatite implant wrapping materials: analysis of fibrovascular ingrowth in an animal model.

PURPOSE: To compare the influence of seven currently available spherical orbital implant wraps on host fibrovascularization of a hydroxyapatite (HA) orbital implant. METHODS: Five groups of 3 (15 total) adult male New Zealand albino rabbits underwent enucleation with placement of a 12-mm HA implant wrapped in high-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE), processed bovine pericardium, or processed human pericardium, sclera, or fascia lata. Magnetic resonance imaging before and after the intravenous administration of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA, 0.1 mol/kg) was performed immediately before exenteration. Five rabbits (one with each of the different implant wraps) were killed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and the operated socket was exenterated. Histopathologic sections of the implants were then compared with the results of our previous study using polyglactin 910 mesh and autologous sclera as HA orbital implant wraps. RESULTS: Complete fibrovascularization of all the implants occurred by 12 weeks; however, HA implants wrapped with sclera, polyglactin mesh, and e-PTFE appeared to undergo more rapid fibrovascularization than spheres wrapped with other materials. CONCLUSIONS: Although all of the implant wraps studied may be suitable substitutes for donor sclera, we prefer polyglactin mesh because it is readily available, inexpensive, and without risk of transmissible diseases.

Jones tube insertion in children with canalicular agenesis.

The purpose of this report is to describe a simplified method of Jones tube insertion in the management of pediatric patients with symptomatic upper and lower punctal and canalicular agenesis. A 5-year-old female with bilateral upper and lower canalicular agenesis, and a 4-year-old male with agenesis of the right upper and lower canaliculi, underwent placement of Jones tubes without performing standard external conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy. The first child requiring bilateral Jones tube insertion has remained asymptomatic for 24 months. The Jones tube dislodged in the second patient 6 weeks postoperatively. The tube was replaced, and the child has been asymptomatic for 16 months. The technique of Jones tube insertion without a previous or concomitant external dacryocystorhinostomy may be a useful modification in the management of pediatric patients with symptomatic upper and lower canalicular agenesis.

Wrapping hydroxyapatite implants.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) implants currently are most commonly wrapped in fresh unprocessed human donor sclera before implantation to facilitate entry into the orbital space and allow extraocular muscle attachment. Autologous temporalis fascia or autologous fascia lata are alternatives, but prolong surgery time and require a second operative site. Recently, a number of other wraps, such as processed human pericardium, processed human fascia lata, processed human sclera, bovine pericardium and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene [e-PTFE], have being marketed. Although they also facilitate implant placement, they can be costly. Polygalactin (Vicryl, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) mesh is another readily available wrap that is easy to use and cost effective. To obtain a high success rate with this wrap, the polygalactin mesh wrapped HA implant must be moistened and seated into the orbit properly. If it is not, exposure may occur, which may explain why some surgeons shy away from its use. The proper technique is reviewed in this paper.

Congenital, paradoxical lower eyelid retraction on upgaze.

PURPOSE: Active lower eyelid retraction on upgaze is a rarely described finding. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and operative findings in two patients with this unique eyelid movement disorder. METHODS: The authors identified active, unilateral lower eyelid retraction on upgaze in two patients who had no other ocular or systemic abnormalities. RESULTS: Surgical extirpation of the lower eyelid retractor complex was carried out in both cases. During one of the procedures, performed under local anesthesia, the lower eyelid retractors were observed to retract actively on upgaze. Postoperatively, lower eyelid retraction on upgaze was not present in either case. CONCLUSIONS: The authors are aware of only one other case report describing active, paradoxical lower eyelid retraction on upgaze. The mechanism of eyelid retraction in this previous report and in the two patients described herein is not known. The authors postulate that these unique cases may represent a previously unrecognized form of congenital, aberrant innervation of the oculomotor nerve.

Unilateral proptosis in an immunocompetent man as the initial clinical manifestation of systemic Hodgkin disease.

OBJECTIVE: Orbital involvement in Hodgkin disease (HD) is rare. Previously reported cases of HD in patients without the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have been diagnosed late in the course of established systemic disease. The authors describe an immunocompetent man with orbital infiltration as the initial manifestation of systemic HD. DESIGN: Case report. PARTICIPANTS: A 47-year-old man with acute progressive, painless proptosis of the left eye is described. INTERVENTION: A well-defined, homogeneous soft tissue mass of the superior left orbit was evident on computed tomography, and an incisional biopsy of the nontender mass was performed. RESULTS: The histopathologic findings were characteristic of HD. Systemic investigations showed clinical stage 3A HD. Ten months after completion of hybrid chemotherapy, the patient remained in complete remission from his HD. CONCLUSION: Hodgkin disease presenting initially in the orbit of a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has been described previously. The patient presented in this report is the first case of HD in the recent English literature with the initial manifestation in the orbit of an otherwise immunocompetent patient.

Ptosis in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

PURPOSE: To report a case of chronic, progressive unilateral blepharoptosis in a 73-year-old woman with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. METHOD: Case report. A biopsy was performed on a thickened and indurated tarsal plate that we believed had resulted in mechanical blepharoptosis. RESULTS: Histologic and immunohistochemistry studies of the biopsy specimen demonstrated a lymphoplasmacytoid cell infiltrate with monoclonal antibodies consistent with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. CONCLUSION: Involvement of the tarsal conjunctiva and tarsus in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a newly recognized cause of eyelid thickening and ptosis.

Orbital involvement in allergic fungal sinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Although allergic fungal sinusitis is a relatively common, noninvasive form of paranasal sinus mycosis, and despite frequent orbital involvement, there have been few reports of this condition in the ophthalmic literature. METHODS: Two cases of allergic fungal sinusitis having orbital symptoms are described. The current classification, typical presentation, and ideal management of fungal sinusitis are reviewed. RESULTS: Distinguishing radiologic and pathologic features were present in both patients. Aspergillus flavus was cultured in one case, and Bipolaris spicifera was cultured in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic fungal sinusitis is a unique subset of sino-orbital disease with highly characteristic clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features. Unlike invasive forms of mycotic disease, allergic fungal sinusitis may be managed adequately with surgical debridement, aeration of the involved sinuses, and systemic and topical corticosteroids.

Management of experimental globe perforation during strabismus surgery.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of potentially vision-threatening globe perforation during strabismus surgery is reportedly between less than 1% and 12% of cases. Optimal treatment of globe perforation is not known; however, traditionally it has been treated with cryotherapy at the time of surgery or observation without treatment. The indirect-ophthalmoscope-directed diode laser may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment. METHODS: We perforated the globes of six adult Dutch rabbits (12 eyes) and treated four eyes with cryotherapy and four with diode laser; the remaining four were not treated. RESULTS: Histologic examination of the untreated eyes revealed a cellular reaction around the polyglactin suture that formed a non-uniform chorioretinal adhesion. The cryotherapy eyes had a tenuous chorioretinal adhesion and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the vitreous on several sections. The laser-treated eyes had a firm, wide chorioretinal adhesion, with minimal tissue disruption and no release of RPE cells. No complications occurred. CONCLUSION: We conclude that indirect-ophthalmoscope-directed diode laser retinopexy was safe and efficacious for globe perforation during strabismus surgery on rabbits and could be expected to be useful in humans.

Atypical mycobacterial infection of the orbit.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation and successful management of an orbital infection caused by Mycobacterium abscessus, a formerly unrecognized cause of orbital disease after penetrating trauma. METHODS: An orbital infection due to M. abscessus is described, and previously reported ocular and extraophthalmic infections caused by M. abscessus are reviewed. RESULTS: A 5-year-old boy had acute, painless visual loss shortly after being struck in his left lower eyelid with a fishing rod. Radiologic evaluation established a mass in the orbital apex. Initial biopsy and cultures of the apex mass were negative; however, additional orbital exploration and cultures demonstrated M. abscessus to be the causative organism. The orbital infection was treated successfully with long-term oral clarithromycin. Review of the literature on ocular/adnexal and soft tissue infections caused by atypical mycobacteria shows characteristic clinical and histopathologic features. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, only seven patients with atypical mycobacterial infections of the ocular adnexa have been reported. The patient reported in the current study illustrates the difficulty in establishing the preoperative diagnosis of atypical mycobacterial infections of the orbit. A chronic draining wound or a localized orbital abscess, after penetrating trauma, should alert the physician to the possibility of an M. abscessus infection. Clarithromycin, an oral macrolide antibiotic, appears to be the most effective medical therapy for these patients.