PURPOSE: To evaluate porous polyethylene implants as compared to solid and gel spheres in anophthalmic cavities. METHODS: Thirty-six white rabbits underwent a right eye enucleation with placement of 12 mm of porous (18 animals) or gel (18 animals) polyethylene spheres. The animals were submitted to weekly clinical evaluation. Ultrasound examinations were done 30, 60 and 90 days after surgery and the animals were sacrificed on the day 90th. Then, the orbit content was removed and submitted to light microscopy. RESULTS: Five animals (27.2%) which received porous polyethylene spheres presented sphere extrusion. With the gel polyethylene spheres, the extrusions happened in 94.4% of the animals and it was observed that the expelled gel spheres had higher diameter then the implanted ones. Ultrasound evaluation showed that the porous polyethylene implant becomes vascularized but the gel not, as confirmed by histological examination. CONCLUSION: Spheres of material in the gel state hydrate and increase in volume making it necessary to know the final size before the implantation. Ultrasound examination allows the evaluation of the implant-tissue integration.
Polyethylenes; Orbital implants; Rabbits; Ultrasonography
