Retinal re-detachments after removal of silicone oil: Frequency and timings in a retrospective clinical study

To analyse anatomical outcome after removal of silicone oil endotamponade in complicated cases of retinal detachment with reference to frequency and timings, and to study factors affecting the outcome.

The retrospective study was conducted at one public-sector and one private-sector hospital in Karachi, and comprised data related to patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil endotamponade for complicated retinal detachment and subsequent removal of silicone oil between 1996 and 2015. The surgery had been carried out by both active and passive methods. Outcome variable was retinal re-detachment. Timings and frequency of re-detachment were noted and regression analysis for pre-dictive factors was carried out.

The study comprised 355 eyes relayed to as many patients. Of the total, 239(67.30%) were males and 116(32.70 %) were females. Overall mean age was 43.29} 17.15years. Mean duration of silicone oil endotamponade was 5}1.34 months. Indications of injection were retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 290(81.69%) eyes and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 65(18.31%). Retinal re-detachment was seen in 51(14.36%) cases. Among them, 15(29.41%) were seen on the table, and 40(78%) within the first 3 months. Duration of silicone oil tamponade, technique of removal, type of silicone oil used and number of previous surgeries had no predictive value on anatomical outcome (p>0.05 each).

Re-detachment of retina is still a major clinical issue after the removal of silicone oil despite current advances in vitreoretinal surgery.