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The use of self-inflating hydrogel expanders in pediatric patients with congenital microphthalmia in China
Zhijia Hou1, Qiong Yang, Tao Chen
1Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Purpose:
To report the results of enlarging orbital volume in consecutive cases of severe congenital microphthalmia by means of solid hydrophilic tissue expanders.
Methods:
The medical records of consecutive patients with congenital microphthalmia who underwent the placement of a hydrogel expander were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures were orbital tissue expansion, prosthetic retention, and patient family satisfaction.
Results:
A total of 17 patients were included in the study. All patients were able to retain an ocular prosthesis. The horizontal palpebral length increased from 71.3% of the contralateral unaffected eye to 85.4% of the contralateral unaffected eye. The expansion of orbital volume was assessed in seven patients. The volume of the microphthalmic orbits was expanded from 74.7% of the contralateral unaffected orbits to 83.5% of the contralateral unaffected orbits. Aesthetic results were satisfactory to both physicians and patient families. The following complications were noted in two patients: inferior migration of a spherical expander occurred in one case; a hemispheric expander was removed by the patient in another case.
Conclusions:
Hydrogel implants can successfully expand the dimensions of the conjunctival sac and the orbit in cases of severe congenital microphthalmia.
