Management of porous polyethylene implant exposure in patients with retinoblastoma following enucleation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To report the features and the management of porous polyethylene implant exposure in patients with retinoblastoma following enucleation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The medical records of 33 patients (33 sockets) following enucleation and porous polyethylene implantation for retinoblastoma were reviewed.

RESULTS

The mean age at enucleation was 24 months (range, 2 to 85 months). The exposure rate was 33% (11 cases), and the mean time from enucleation to exposure was 15 months (range, 7 to 29 months). One case was resolved only by supportive management, and the remaining 10 were successfully treated with a scleral patch graft and maintained well during a mean follow-up of 15 months after surgical repair. There was no statistical evidence that age, gender, implant size, or chemotherapy had an effect on implant exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Porous polyethylene implant exposure does not seem to be resolved by conservative management. We recommend early surgical management, such as scleral patch graft, as opposed to supportive management.