Our experience with dermofat graft in reconstruction of anophthalmic socket

To present our experience with dermofat graft in reconstruction of anophthalmic socket.

In period from September 2005 until June 2009, eight patients have undergone orbital surgery of transplantation of dermofat graft. In six patients the dermofat graft was used as the secondary orbital implant after extrusion of hydroxyapatite orbital implant with major defect of bulbar conjunctiva. The other indication for the dermofat graft was correction of deep superior sulcus of the upper lid in anophthalmic socket in two patients. The graft was harvested from the left side of the belly. The size of the graft purposely exceeded the size of the defect to account for the expected tissue resorption.

We experienced no major complication. Approximately 20-40% of dermofat graft reduction was noticed in 3-months period postoperatively. It took 6-8 weeks for the graft to fully epithelize from the conjunctival edge. Silicone conformer was introduced for that period of time. Subsequently, in two out of six patients with dermofat graft as the secondary implant, fornix had to be reconstructed later on with oral mucosa graft.

Dermofat graft is a valuable material in orbital reconstruction especially in anophthalmic socket.