A modified symblepharon ring for sutureless amniotic membrane patch to treat acute ocular surface burns

J Burn Care Res. 2012 Mar-Apr;33(2):e32-8. doi: 10.1097/BCR.0b013e318239f9b9.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate a sutureless technique by using a modified symblepharon ring to fix an amniotic membrane (AM) patch on the ocular surface to treat acute ocular burns. Seventy-five patients with acute ocular burns of total 75 eyes graded III to VI were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. Thirty-nine eyes received the sutureless AM patch with a modified symblepharon ring, and the other 36 eyes underwent the conventional sutured AM patch as control. The time and the rate of epithelialization, corneal neovascularization, and complications were recorded. Both the operation time and the time to epithelial closure in the sutureless group were much shorter than that in the suture group (P < .01). The rate of reepithelialization in the sutureless group was higher than in the suture group (P < .05). The rate of the vascularization and symblepharon were lower in the sutureless group than in the suture group (P < .05). The conjunctival sac contraction occurred only in the eyes with grade V and VI in the sutureless group and was later than in the suture group (P < .05). This modified method is simple, minimally invasive, free from trauma, and more effective compared with controls.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amnion / transplantation*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Cornea / blood supply
  • Corneal Injuries
  • Eye Burns / complications
  • Eye Burns / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Suture Techniques
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing