[Surgical results of retinal detachment with unseen retinal breaks]

The treatment of retinal detachment (RD) with unseen breaks has not been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate surgical results of these RDs using two different techniques.

We conducted a retrospective study including consecutively operated RDs in our department between 2001 and 2006. Twenty-two RDs were identified. In eight eyes (36.4%), conventional scleral buckling was performed (with or without subretinal fluid drainage). In 14 eyes (63.6%), vitrectomy associated with cryopexy or endolaser impact was performed. Circumferential buckling was achieved in ten cases.

These operated patients account for 2.5% of the RDs followed up in our department between January 2001 and June 2006 (887 patients). The eyes were predominantly pseudophakic (86.4%), with inferior RD (59.1%). The patients had described functional signs for a mean of 56 days (2-240 days). Sixteen eyes (73%) were reattached after the primary procedure. The primary reattachment rates at 1 month were 37.5% in the scleral buckling group versus 86.4% in the vitrectomized group. The final retinal reattachment rate was 86.4%.

In our study, the situation where breaks are unseen during retinal detachment surgery is uncommon (2.5%), occurring most often with inferior retinal detachment in pseudophakic eyes. This seems to indicate better retina reattachment after vitrectomy associated with a circumferential buckling in first intention. However, a study including a larger number of patients would be necessary to confirm our results.