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Updated: May 26, 2026
Multi-Scale Modification of Metallic Implants With Pore Gradients, Polyelectrolytes and Their Indirect Monitoring In vivo
Published on: July 1, 2013
Comparison of experimental porous silicone implants and porous silicone implants
JunHyuk Son1, Chang-sik Kim, JaeWook Yang
1Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
Background:
To investigate the extent and pattern of fibrovascular ingrowth of porous silicone sphere implants compared to porous polyethylene implants.
Methods:
Experimental porous silicone sphere implants and porous polyethylene implants were implanted in the left socket of 20 New Zealand white rabbits after enucleation. Fibrovascular ingrowth and maturation was evaluated at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation by histopathologic examination and scanning electron microscope.
Results:
At 4 weeks after surgery, porous polyethylene implants showed deeper fibrovascular ingrowth than porous silicone sphere implants; 42.4% versus 34.2% of radius of the implants respectively (p = 0.047). However there was no significant difference in the depth of fibrovascular ingrowth between the two groups at 8 weeks after implantation, although porous polyethylene implants showed deeper fibrovascular ingrowth than porous silicone sphere implants; 71.6% versus 63.6% (p = 0.102).
Conclusions:
Porous silicone orbital implants demonstrated a comparable extent of fibrovascular ingrowth to that for porous polyethylene implants. Therefore, this new porous silicone sphere implant may be a good candidate to substitute for current porous implants at a lower cost.
