[Enucleation and evisceration: 370 cases review. Results and complications]

To analyze the surgical results in 370 patients who underwent enucleation or evisceration at our center, during a period of 11 years (1990-2000), determining the kind of correction used and the complications associated with the procedure.

This was a retrospective study of medical records from all patients who underwent surgery by the same surgeon (FS) in the Oculoplastic Department. Demographic data, diagnosis, previous and associated ophthalmic surgeries, implant or graft characteristics, follow up period and postoperative complications were determined in all patients.

One hundred sixty-one enucleations and 209 eviscerations were performed. Some kind of implant or graft was associated with 98.4% of these procedures. During the first 6 years of the study, lipodermal grafts were performed in 58.8% of the total, while in the last 5 years hydroxyapatite implants were performed in 90.9% of the cases. In 39 (10.6%) of 369 patients with registered follow up data, 58 complications requiring surgical correction were observed.

Hydroxyapatite implants gave an excellent anophthalmic socket reconstruction, and improved esthetic and motility results. Lipodermal grafts were an excellent alternative in our environment. We observed some complications with the different techniques, but only a few required surgical correction.