Autologous Tragal Perichondrium Patch Graft for Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Tube Exposure:

Giant anterior scleral staphyloma caused by blunt ocular trauma: a case report

BACKGROUND

Anterior scleral staphyloma is a relatively rare disease characterized by thinning and expansion of sclera. We described the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of a case with giant anterior scleral staphyloma caused by blunt ocular trauma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 24-years-old male, presented with a black cyst-like mass protruding from the right eyeball for 9 years after a history of glass crush contusion. The ultrasound biomicroscopy examination showed two cysts in the right eyeball. The larger one was about 5.92 mm*4.69 mm in size and the scleral lacerations were connected to the posterior chamber below the cyst. For treatment, resection of the anterior scleral staphyloma and the scleral patch graft transplantation was performed. The vision of the patient was improved compared with that before surgery. There were no obvious complications.

CONCLUSION

The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the case with giant anterior scleral staphyloma can provide a reference for the management of anterior scleral staphyloma. Surgical resection and scleral patch graft should be a good option for the treatment of giant anterior scleral staphyloma.

Anterior staphyloma repair following trauma and surgery - A retrospective review of techniques and outcomes over 25 years

Purpose

To review surgical options, techniques, and outcomes of anterior staphyloma repair done following trauma and surgery.

Methods

This was a retrospective case study of patients who underwent staphyloma repair with scleral or tibial periosteal patch grafts following trauma and surgery with a minimum follow-up of 3 months postoperatively. Preoperative risk factors, choice of graft materials, surgical details, and outcomes in terms of graft uptake and tectonic integrity were analyzed.

Results

Seventeen eyes of 17 patients underwent successful staphyloma repair (scleral 15, tibial periosteal two). Mean follow-up was 47.1 months (3-159 months). Postoperative intraocular pressure rise noted in four eyes was controlled medically or surgically. Three patients underwent successful repeat patch grafting (graft melt one and recurrent ectasia two). Tectonic integrity of the eyeball was restored and maintained in all patients at the final follow-up.

Conclusion

Comprehensive evaluation of the risk factors, control of ocular comorbid conditions, and early and meticulous surgery can optimize results.

Reconstruction of the external auditory canal: The tragal flap revisited and review of contemporary reconstructive techniques

BACKGROUND

Primary malignancies arising in the external auditory canal (EAC) are rare and usually are treated surgically. We review techniques to reconstruct the EAC following ablative surgery, and introduce a rarely utilized tragal skin flap which has particular advantages for reconstruction of limited anterior EAC defects.

METHODS

The terms "tragal flap", "external auditory canal", "preauricular tragal flap", "reconstructive techniques" were searched on PubMed and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Our review identified one description of a tragal flap to reconstruct the EAC following resection of a malignancy. We add an additional case of a preauricular tragal flap to reconstruct the anterior EAC following resection of a recurrent basal cell carcinoma located in the EAC that led to a circumferential defect.

CONCLUSION

There are several surgical techniques that can be utilized to reconstruct the EAC. We describe a novel tragal flap used to reconstruct the anterior EAC following resection of a recurrent tumor.

The best thickness of cornea graft from SMILE surgery as patch graft in glaucoma drainage implant surgery

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the best thickness of corneal slices acquired from femtosecond laser surgery-small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE surgery) as patch graft in glaucoma drainage implantation surgery.

METHODS

This study is a prospective randomized study. Patients who received glaucoma drainage implantation from September 2016 to November 2018 were observed. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A included 102 cases (104 eyes), receiving 1 layer (120-150 μm) of allogeneic lamellar corneal tissue as the graft. Group B included 117 cases (120 eyes), receiving 2 layers of lamellar corneal tissue from one donor. Group C included 109 cases (111 eyes), using 3 layers of lamellar corneal tissue from 2 donors. The intraocular pressure, corneal graft, conjunctiva stromalysis, drainage tube exposure, and drainage plate were observed.

RESULTS

Patients were followed up for 6 to 33 months. The intraocular pressure was significantly reduced after surgery in all three groups. Conjunctiva stromalysis and drainage tubes were exposed in 3 eyes (3%) in group A and 1 eye (0.8%, a special case which has nystagmus and the plate was placed infratemporally) in group B, whereas no conjunctiva stromalysis or tube exposure was reported in group C.

CONCLUSIONS

The corneal graft acquired from SMILE surgery can effectively prevent drainage tube exposure and give patients a better cosmetic appearance. Two layers of lamellar corneal tissue (240-300 μm) may be the best suitable thickness because it can effectively reduce tube exposure and rejection. In some special cases, 3 layers of lamellar corneal tissue are needed.

Ectopic chondrogenesis of nude mouse induced by nano gene delivery enhanced tissue engineering technology

Background: Many techniques and methods have been used clinically to relieve pain from cartilage repair, but the long-term effect is still unsatisfactory. Purpose: The objective of this study was to form an artificial chondroid tissue gene enhanced tissue engineering system to repair cartilage defects via nanosized liposomes. Methods: Cationic nanosized liposomes were prepared and characterized using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic laser light scattering (DLS). The rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were isolated, cultivated, and induced by SRY (Sex-Determining Region Y)-Box 9 (Sox9) via cationic nanosized liposomes. The induced rMSCs were mixed with a thermo-sensitive chitosan hydrogel and subcutaneously injected into the nude mice. Finally, the newly-formed chondroid tissue obtained in the injection parts, and the transparent parts were detected by HE, collagen II, and safranin O. Results: It was found that the presently prepared cationic nanosized liposomes had the diameter of 85.76±3.48 nm and the zeta potential of 15.76±2.1 mV. The isolated rMSCs proliferation was fibroblast-like, with a cultivated confluence of 90% confluence in 5-8 days, and stained positive for CD29 and CD44 while negative for CD34 and CD45. After transfection with cationic nanosized liposomes, we observed changes of cellular morphology and a higher expression of SOX9 compared with control groups, which indicated that rMSCs could differentiate into chondrocyte in vitro. By mixing transfected rMSCs with the thermo-sensitive hydrogel of chitosan in nude mice, chondroid tissue was successfully obtained, demonstrating that rMSCs can differentiate into chondrogenic cells in vivo. Conclusion: This study explored new ways to improve the quality of tissue engineered cartilage, thus accelerating clinical transformation and reducing patient pain.

Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Conjunctival Pedicle Graft Revision Combined With Repeated Pericardium Allograft for Exposed Glaucoma Drainage Devices

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety and long-term results of conjunctival pedicle graft (CPG) technique for revision of exposed glaucoma drainage device (GDD).

DESIGN

Retrospective noncomparative case series.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients with exposed GDD between 2011 and 2016 who underwent tube revision with CPG were included. Data from demographic variables, glaucoma subtype, previous surgeries, GDD type and location, patch graft nature, intraocular pressure, and intraoperative and long-term complications were collected.

RESULTS

Eight eyes from 7 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 61 years old (range, 51 to 80), median time to erosion was 23.4 months (range, 5 d to 45.1 mo), median number of operations before exposure was 3 (range, 1 to 5), and 6 tubes had an inferior location (75%). Average follow-up after repair was 24.3 months (range, 5.2 to 59.8 mo). No significant intraoperative adverse events were noted and visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and number of medications remained unchanged at 1 month after repair in all cases. We report 1 case of repeated tube exposure 24 months after CPG in a 51-year-old Afro-Caribbean woman with 5 previous operations.

CONCLUSIONS

With an average follow-up of >2 years, we provide additional long-term evidence that CPG is a safe and effective technique for treating exposed tubes. We did not experience any complications and report 1 reexposure case in a young Afro-Caribbean patient with extensive previous conjunctival scarring.

Management of conjunctival perforation and late Seidel after XEN® surgery

CLINICAL CASE

The case concerns a 78 year-old woman with a history of XEN^® surgery, in whom a conjunctival perforation was observed at the implant level at 18-months of follow-up, for which surgical intervention was decided. During surgery a short subconjunctival portion was found (0.5mm). An unsuccessful attempt was made to extract it by traction, but the XEN^® broke easily. Finally, it was decided to cut it to scleral level, and suture the conjunctiva. During the first week there was a decrease in intraocular pressure (6mmHg), to subsequently increase to 25, and deciding to start medical treatment.

DISCUSSION

Conjunctival exposure of the XEN^® stent is a rare but potentially serious complication. To avoid it, a meticulous surgical technique is important when implanting it. If this occurs, it is important to identify the cause. If it is due to a short subconjunctival portion, a therapeutic alternative is to cut the implant at this level to avoid further complications.

Aqueous Drainage Device Erosion: A Review of Rates, Risks, Prevention, and Repair

Aqueous drainage device tube erosions require prompt intervention to prevent endophthalmitis. As the use of drainage devices in glaucoma surgery continues to increase, recognizing and managing tube erosions is a pertinent issue. This review provides a comprehensive overview of tube erosions, including the rates of erosion with various types of patch grafts, the risk factors associated with erosion, and approaches to repair in order to counsel and treat our patients to prevent endophthalmitis.

Patch graft materials for glaucoma tube implants

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Patch graft materials serve multiple purposes in glaucoma surgery. There are several choices of patch graft materials from which the surgeon can choose. Therefore, knowledge as to the choices and the potential risks and benefits of patch graft materials is imperative for the glaucoma surgeon.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies evaluate both patch graft materials and techniques. This evaluation is timely as facility reimbursement changes may also impact utilization and technique.

SUMMARY

Successful operative outcomes require profound understanding of all potential risks and benefits of patch graft materials and surgical techniques.