Lower eyelid fornix deepening: A new indication for the facial artery myomucosal flap

Eye socket contracture is a well-known late complication of enucleation surgery, and the additional insult of radiotherapy at an early age causes even further fibrosis and scarring of the socket. Management of the contracted socket is challenging, and several methods have been proposed. We report a case of eye socket contracture after enucleation and radiotherapy in which multiple reconstructive procedures failed. The recurrent contracture caused difficulty in housing and retaining the eye prosthesis. We reconstructed the lower eyelid with a facial artery myomucosal flap and nasolabial flap, and the upper eyelid with a Fricke flap following reconstruction of the orbital rims (supraorbital and infraorbital rims with a calvarial bone graft, and further augmentation of the infraorbital rim with a rib bone graft). Cosmesis post-reconstruction was acceptable and the prosthesis was retained very well.

A custom-made conformer wrapped in lower oral mucosa for the correction of severely contracted socket

Purpose: To investigate the clinical effects of a custom-made conformer wrapped in lower oral mucosa for the correction of severely contracted socket. Methods: Clinical data and photographs of 32 patients with severely contracted socket were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 32 cases, 21 were males and 11 were females. Their ages ranged from 20 to 71 years (mean, 45 years). Each patient underwent conjunctival sac plasty using a custom-made conformer wrapped by oral mucosa, then compression bandage for 1 month. All patients received tarsorrhaphy 6 months postoperatively, and an artificial eye was worn 1 week later. Results: All the grafts were fully vascularized. The conjunctival sacs had enough space to fit the desirable artificial eyes, and adequate aesthetic outcomes were reached postoperatively. The mean depth of the upper fornix was 4.28 ± 0.66 mm preoperatively and 18.84 ± 0.65 mm postoperatively ( p < 0.01), and lower fornix depth was 2.69 ± 0.42 and 8.78 ± 0.82 mm, respectively ( p < 0.01). Lower lip deformity occurred in one case. Conclusion: A custom-made conformer wrapped in lower oral mucosa was a safe and effective grafting material. The grafts can be effectively used in the reconstruction of severely contracted socket and lead to good cosmetic outcomes.

Autologous pericranium grafts for large orbital implants

Introduction: Insufficient orbital volume in an anophthalmic socket is a major problem for the placement of an ocular prosthesis. This study reports the outcomes of the use of autologous pericranium graft in association with a large primary or secondary orbital implant in patients with a contracted socket and large orbital volume deficit. Methods: This was a retrospective single-institution study. Participants were 13 patients with contracted socket, volume deficit, and insufficient conjunctiva to cover the new implant divided into two groups, A ( n = 3) and B ( n = 10), according to the baseline condition of the socket. Surgery was primary evisceration (group A only) and placement of a large orbital implant followed by an autologous pericranium graft over the implant (groups A and B). Results: Mean follow-up duration for the patient series was 9.5 months (range 9–24). Complete epithelialization of the pericranium graft was recorded at 47.3 days of follow-up (range 33–67). No cases of implant exposure or shrinkage were noted during follow-up. Main postoperative complications were conjunctival granuloma (five patients, 38.5%), conjunctival seroma (one patient, 7.7%). All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome. Conclusion: Autologous pericranial graft was effective in reconstructing the contracted socket so that the anophthalmic socket could accommodate a larger or secondary orbital implant. The efficacy of this procedure needs to be confirmed in a larger patient series.