Hard palate-dermis fat composite graft for reconstruction of contracted anophthalmic socket

Purpose: To describe a novel technique of using a hard palate-dermis fat composite graft (HPDFG) for reconstruction of a contracted anophthalmic socket. Methods: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series of four patients who underwent HPDFG placement by one surgeon between 2010 and 2017. Results: Six harvested HPDFGs were placed in four patients with contracted anophthalmic sockets. A harvested hard palate graft (HPG) and a dermis fat graft (DFG) were adjoined with sutures to form a composite graft. All adhesions and symblephara between the eyelid and the anterior surface of the anophthalmic socket were lysed. The HPG component was attached to the tarsal margin to vertically lengthen the eyelid. The free edge of the DFG was sutured to the cut edge of the bulbar conjunctiva to simultaneously expand the anterior conjunctival surface area and fornix volume. The line of union between the two grafts formed the apex of the new fornix. Four HPDFG were used to reconstruct both the upper and lower lid fornices in two severely contracted sockets. Three patients received post-operative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) injections. Three patients underwent additional revisions with buccal mucous membrane graft, amniotic membrane graft, full-thickness skin graft, pedicle flap, and dermal fillers. All four patients achieved excellent cosmesis and comfortable prosthesis fit. Conclusions: Composite HPDFG is an effective method of reconstructing a contracted anophthalmic socket by restoring volume, lengthening the posterior lamella, and expanding the fornix to allow for successful prosthesis retention. Adjunctive use of 5-FU injections can delay post-operative cicatrization.