Pericardium Patch Graft for Severe Corneal Wound Burn

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Techniques
• Biomaterials in Medicine

Background:

• Phacoemulsification for dense cataracts, especially with shallow or overfilled anterior chambers (AC), carries a risk of severe corneal wound burn.
• Conventional management for such burns, including sutures and bandage contact lenses, can be refractory.

Observation:

• A case report details a 46-year-old patient experiencing a severe corneal wound burn post-phacoemulsification despite the "soft shell" technique.
• The burn was unresponsive to standard interventions like corneal suturing and bandage contact lens placement.

Findings:

• A pericardium patch graft (Tutoplast®) was successfully employed to manage the refractory corneal wound burn.
• The graft fully resorbed within six weeks, resolving the wound leak and resulting in a well-healed cornea.

Implications:

• Pericardium patch grafting presents a viable and effective alternative for managing extensive phacoemulsification-induced wound burns.
• This technique demonstrates safety and efficacy in cases refractory to conventional ophthalmological treatments.