THE HYDROXYAPATITE ORBITAL IMPLANT - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The hydroxyapatite orbital implant was first released for use as an or bital implant in humans in August 1989, It has been shown to be well t olerated, providing good motility of the artificial eye with a low com plication rate when used as a primary implant.(1) This prospective stu dy evaluated the hydroxyapatite orbital implant used as both a primary and a secondary implant, Sixty patients were implanted between Octobe r 1992 and November 1994, 28 being implanted as a primary procedure at the time of enucleation or evisceration, and 32 as a secondary proced ure, Seven patients underwent second-stage drilling and pegging of the implant, The mean follow-up time was 13 months (range 2-26 months), A standardised operative and post-operative protocol was followed. The patients were evaluated post-operatively for the amount of enophthalmo s, degree of upper lid sulcus deformity, motility of the prosthesis, l ocation of the implant in the socket, socket status and the presence o r absence of discharge, position of the drill hole and coverage of the implant, Complications and their management were documented, Both pat ient and surgeon made a subjective assessment of cosmesis and the pati ent's satisfaction with the overall result was noted. The ii results o f this study show the hydroxyapatite orbital implant to provide excell ent motility of the artificial eye and good cosmesis with a low rate o f complications when used both as a primary and as a secondary implant .