Reinforced episcleral cerclage in retinal detachment. A note on surgical technique.

Episcleral silicone rods are used as encircling elements in retinal detachment surgery. In order to reinforce the encircling effect and form a stable effective buckle, the episcleral silicone rod is combined with an Arruga suture or a fairly rigid teflon band. The Arruga string (a 2-0 supramid suture) is sewn, in a longitudinal direction, into a solid silicone rod (2 mm in diameter) or into a silicone half-cylinder (diameter 3 or 4 mm). Soft sponge-like rods can also be reinforced with a 2 mm broad teflon band placed on the flat surface of the half-cylindrical silicone element. Drainage of subretinal fluid is usually performed in order to make room for the high circumferential buckle. Experience has shown that this modified encircling procedure is very useful in complicated cases of retinal detachment.