Combined effect of polytetrafluoroethylene and 5-fluorouracil on delayed adjustable strabismus surgery

Purpose: To determine a more reliable method for performing delayed suture adjustment to prevent the formation of postoperative adhesions and delay th e time of adjustment. Methods: Thirty-two rabbit eyes were divided into three groups. After reces sion of the superior rectus muscle, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was administered beneath and over the superior rectus muscle in group 5-FU (12 eyes); polyte trafluoroethylene (PTFE) and 5-FU were administered in group P-f (10 eyes); and PTFE, 5-FU, and Viscoat (chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, Alco n Laboratories Inc, Fort Worth, Tex) were administered in group P-fv (10 ey es). Delayed adjustment was performed once on each superior rectus muscle a t 1, 2, and 3 weeks postoperatively in group 5-FU and at 2 and 4 weeks post operatively in groups P-f and P-fv. The length and force for the adjustment and the degree of adhesions were recorded. Results: The use of fluorouracil allowed adjustment to be delayed up to 1 w eek after surgery in three of four eyes. The combined use of PTFE and 5-FU or addition of Viscoat allowed adjustment to be delayed for up to 4 weeks a fter surgery in four of five eyes. Conclusion: The combined use of PTFE, 5-FU and Viscoat is useful for delayi ng suture adjustment in rabbit eyes.