Enucleation with hydroxyapatite implantation versus evisceration plus scleral quadrisection and alloplastic implantation.

PURPOSE: To compare the motility and complications of enucleation with evisceration plus scleral quadrisection.

METHODS: In a prospective study between January 2006 and June 2007, 50 patients underwent evisceration with scleral quadrisection and alloplastic implantation (group 1) and 50 patients underwent enucleation and hydroxyapatite implantation (group 2). Horizontal and vertical excursions of implants and complications such as exposure or extrusion and deep superior sulcus deformity were evaluated postoperatively.

RESULTS: After a mean follow-up interval of 11.5 months for group 1 and 13.2 months for group 2, vertical measurements were approximately 20% less than horizontal measurements in both groups. The mean horizontal and vertical movements in group 2 were significantly less than in group 1 (p < 0.001). There was 1 case of small hydroxyapatite exposure in group 2 (1 in 50; 2%) and 2 cases of implant extrusion in group 1 (4%) (p = 0.50). Deep superior sulcus deformity was noted in 10 patients in group 1 (20%) and 7 patients in group 2 (14%) (p = 0.43). Analysis of covariance in both groups showed that age, gender, and follow-up interval were not predictors of movement in either direction (all p-values >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Evisceration with scleral quadrisection and alloplatic sphere implantation can effectively substitute for a more extensive procedure such as enucleation in patients with painful blind eyes, cosmetically unacceptable blind eyes, and medically uncontrolled endophthalmitis. It provides rapidity, ease, and better implant excursion and lower cost of the implants compared with their porous counterparts.