Analysis on the causes and management of exposure of orbital hydroxyapatite implants

Objective To discuss the causes and managements of exposure of the hydroxyapatite (HA) implants.Methods A retrospective analysis of 32 cases with HA implant exposure between 2002 and 2004 was couducted.Results The implant exposure occurred 3 days to 6 months after implantation.The diameters of exposure were 3～14 mm.Five eyes with implant exposure were managed conservatively and the conjunctival dehiscence healed spontaneously,and 27 eyes were managed by operation,of which 2 eyes with chronic infection of the implants received removal of the implants.Follow-up was performed after operation.Conclusion The reasons of exposure of the HA implants are related with inflammation,surgery method,surgery opportunity,postoperative infection and the version of HA,and so on.Different methods may be applied to manage HA implant exposure according to the sizes of exposure.Small defects(≤5 mm)may be treated conservatively and larger defects(10 mm) should be active management as early as possible.During the course of surgery,we should eliminate the risk factors of HA implant exposure as soon as possible.