COSMETIC OUTCOME OF DERMOFAT GRAFT TO ANOPHTHALMIC ORBIT

JPUMHS;2024:14:02,39-45. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2024/14.02.514

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As a severe and uncommon kind of eye absence, anophthalmia presents challenges for oculoplastic
surgery due to potential consequences for both function and appearance. Dermofat graft (DFG)1 is a novel technique
for anophthalmic orbit repair that offers advantages in terms of both appearance and functionality. However, literature
demonstrating long-term cosmetic results is scarce to date and thus further studies are warranted. OBJECTIVE: To
evaluate the cosmetic outcome of dermofat graft (DFG) to treat anophthalmic orbit, in order to achieve a natural orbital
reconstruction with acceptable facial appearance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This Prospective cohort study
was carried out at Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from June 2021 to December 2023. Twenty-seven adults
18-65 years of age with unilateral anophthalmia were enrolled. All of the dermofat graft surgeries were performed
under general anesthesia. Data was collected through preoperative assessment, intraoperatively and monitor of post
operative evaluation at monthly intervals up to 06 months. Descriptive statistics: Student T test was used for the
analysis of continuous variables and frequency distributions were calculated in terms of percentages to compare groups
using SPSS 23.0. RESULTS: Twenty-four (88.9%) of 27 patients were ultimately functional successes and
cosmetically satisfied with their eye prosthesis following dermofat grafting. At 6 month follow up, cosmetic
improvements were maintained in 92.5% of cases with minimal complications reported. Perhaps most remarkably,
patient satisfaction with cosmetic results was a robust 91.7%. Of the 27 patients, three (11.1%) were managed by
enucleation and 24 (88.9%), by evisceration. CONCLUSION: Dermofat grafts in anophthalmic orbit reconstruction
lead to satisfactory functional results with marked improvement cosmetically and excellent patient satisfaction.
Cosmetic outcomes were further enhanced by combining grafts with orbital implants.