Management of porous orbital implants requiring explantation: a clinical and histopathological study

Purpose: To perform a histopathological review of exposed porous orbital implants requiring explantation and to study the clinical outcome of replacement of the exposed implant with an autologous dermis-fat graft.Methods: Case series. Analysis of the clinical charts of 25 patients (age 5 to 62 years) who were submitted to explantation of exposed hydroxyapatite orbital implants, followed by simultaneous replacement with a dermis-fat graft by 1 oculoplastic surgeon between 2000 and 2011. A histopathological and microbiological evaluation of implant sections was performed. This study adheres to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.Results: Microbiological examination showed the presence of Gram-positive cocci infection in 59% of the patients. Histopathological examination showed the presence of a chronic inflammatory infiltrate in 22 of the implants (88%) and significantly reduced fibrovascular colonization of the implant in all patients.Conclusions: The reduction of fib...