AUTOLOGOUS TRANSPLANTATION OF NASAL-MUCOSA AFTER SEVERE CHEMICAL AND THERMAL EYE BURNS

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.