[Experimental investigation concerning the substitution of the orbital floor of the cat (author's transl)].

In 12 cats the floor of the orbit including the infraorbital margin had been totally resected on both sides. The 24 orbital defects were substituted by complete homologous floors of the orbit which had been preserved in thiomersalate, autologous bone from the tegmen of the sinus frontalis of cats, autologous and homologous cartilage and lyophilizised human dura. All implants healed well. It was found that both autologous and homologous bone implants gave the most stable mechanical connection to the orbital wall. Histological new bone formation was present at 6 months in the homologous bone transplant. This work raises the probability of the use of homograft orbital floor in surgical management of trauma to the orbit.