Extended orbital exenteration, epithetic restoration, and patient supply: A cross-sectional study of a historic cohort

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course and to redefine an optimized algorithm for OE cases until epithetic restoration. Methods: Indication, defect type according to Kesting, reconstructive technique, incidence of postoperative complications and peri-implantitis, patients' quality of life, timing of periorbital implant insertion, incidence of and interval to implant loss, and time until epithetic restoration were analyzed in 43 patients. Results: A significant correlation was detected between wound dehiscence and defect type. Out of 24 patients, 7 were implanted secondarily with a median time interval of 399 days (270–2015) after OE. Eleven out of 83 placed implants were lost in 8 patients with a median time interval of 586 days (264–4485) after insertion. The majority of epithesis carriers had no or few restrictions in their quality of life. Conclusions: We recommend our modified treatment algorithm to further improve and shorten the clinical course.