Effect of ADCON-L on adjustable strabismus surgery in rabbits

Background/aims-In search of a way to prevent postoperative adhesion after strabismus surgery, an animal study was performed to assess the effect of a gel consisting of a polyglycan ester in a gelatin matrix (ADCON-L). Methods-Bilateral recessions of superior rectus muscle (SR) were performed on 16 rabbits. ADCON-L was applied beneath and over the SR in the right eyes of all rabbits, while the operative fields in the left eyes were irrigated with a balanced salt solution (BSS). The adjustment was performed on each SR at 4 and 7 days postoperatively on the same eye. The length and force of the adjustment and the degree of adhesion were recorded. At 3 weeks postoperatively, disinsertional force was measured in several of the eyes, and the other eyes were enucleated. Results-The length of the adjustment was longer and the force of the adjustment was less in the ADCON-L group than in the BSS treated group at 4 and 7 days postoperatively (p=0.00). A significant reduction (p=0.00) in the degree of adhesion was noted in eyes treated with ADCON-L. There was no significant difference in disinsertional force between the two groups. Histopathological evaluation of the muscle revealed decreased fibrosis of perimuscular connective tissue in eyes treated with ADCON-L at 3 weeks postoperatively. Conclusion-This study suggests that ADCON-L helps to prevent postoperative adhesion in rabbits and enables adjustment twice within 7 days postoperatively without complications.