R. Kuckelkorn et al., AUTOLOGOUS TRANSPLANTATION OF NASAL-MUCOSA AFTER SEVERE CHEMICAL AND THERMAL EYE BURNS, Acta ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 74(5), 1996, pp. 442-448
Between February 1992 and March 1994, reconstruction of the fornices i
n 17 patients with extensive symblephara or lid fusion after most seve
re eye burns was performed with nasal mucosa from the inferior conchae
as graft material, The time between accident and transplantation rang
ed from 2-64 months, All patients were followed for 6 to 31 months, Re
construction of the fornices was achieved in 13 patients, Postoperativ
e Schirmer-tests revealed markedly improved results, Impression cytolo
gy showed a persistence of goblet-cells and an excess of mucus. We hav
e subsequently performed keratoplasties in 5 of these patients and are
planning penetrating keratoplasties in a further 8 cases, In 4 patien
ts, partial symblepharon formation recurred within 2-3 months after tr
ansplantation of nasal mucosa, The main advantage of nasal mucosa over
buccal or labial mucose may be the transplantation of intraepithelial
goblet cells, leading to an improvement and stabilisation of the tear
film.