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Published on: December 5, 2025
Repair of exposed porous polyethylene implants utilizing flaps from the implant capsule
Hatem A Tawfik1, Hamida Budin, Jonathan J Dutton
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. hatem35@yahoo.com
Purpose:
To determine the feasibility of the use of flaps from the capsule surrounding porous polyethylene implants in repairing large or recurrent implant exposures.
Design:
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.
Participants:
Sixteen patients with exposed porous polyethylene implants.
Methods:
Vertical and horizontal flaps were created from the implant capsule. These flaps were used to create a double layer of closure to seal the exposure. All patients had a minimum follow-up of at least 12 months.
Main Outcome Measures:
Repair of the exposure without recurrence during the follow-up interval, and assessment of complications.
Results:
At the last follow-up visit, the socket was completely healed in all but 2 patients. In 1 of them, the implant was subsequently exchanged. Other complications included motility loss, conjunctival cyst, and granuloma formation.
Conclusions:
The use of the implant capsule to salvage exposed porous polyethylene implants is an effective technique; it is associated with some complications that can be minimized by careful case selection.
