PLASTIC IMPLANTS IN MUSCLE SURGERY - PLASTIC MATERIALS IN MANAGEMENT OF EXTRAOCULAR MOTILITY RESTRICTIONS

Management of strabismus with restricted motility is difficult at best. Current aids are conjunctival recession or transplant, lid-globe sutures, Tenon's capsule transplants, and implantation of foreign materials. A study is reported of 141 rabbit eyes in which four synthetic materials and gelatin film (Gelfilm) were separately placed over, under, and in tube form around superior rectus muscles. All materials were well tolerated. Infection and extrusion were slight (7% to 8%). Histologic studies showed uniform patterns of cellular behavior to all materials. Certain plastics are shown to be safe in muscle surgery. Sleeves are preferable to sheet implants in many instances. © 1968, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.