[Retinal detachment surgery: Incidence and causes of silicone sponge implant rejection].

In 51 patients with retinal detachments silicone sponge implants have been applicated. In 9 of these cases (17,6%) the implants had to be removed 3 weeks to 16 months postoperatively because of inflammatory reactions. The influence of these complications on the healing of the retinal detachment is considered as relatively unimportant. In light- and electron-microscopic examinations we could establish that the reactions are mainly caused by infections (which primarily spread within the caves of the sponge implants). Chronic infections caused by so-called apathogenic bacteria are more frequent than acute infections by so-called pathogenic micro-organisms. A foreign body reaction could be proved only in one case, in which the sponge was loosened and displaced. Defence reactions against the foreign body material probably develop only if mechanical irritation of the tissue is caused by the sponge material.