Decellularized Porcine Conjunctiva in Treating Severe Symblepharon

Abstract

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of decellularized porcine conjunctiva (DPC) in the management of severe symblepharon. Sixteen patients with severe symblepharon were enrolled in this study. After symblepharon lysis and Mitomycin C (MMC) application, tarsus defects were covered with residual autologous conjunctiva (AC), autologous oral mucosa (AOM), or DPC throughout the fornix, and DPC was used for all the exposed sclera. The outcomes were classified as complete success, partial success, or failure. Six symblepharon patients had chemical burns and ten had thermal burns. Tarsus defects were covered with DPC, AC, and AOM in two, three, and eleven cases, respectively. After an average follow-up of 20.0 ± 6 months, the anatomical outcomes observed were complete successes in twelve (three with AC+DPC, four with AC+AOM+DPC, and five with AOM+DPC) (75%) cases, partial successes in three (one with AOM+DPC and two with DPC+DPC) (18.75%) cases, and failure in one (with AOM+DPC) (6.25%) case. Before surgery, the depth of the narrowest part of the conjunctival sac was 0.59 ± 0.76 mm (range, 0–2 mm), tear fluid quantity (Schirmer II tests) was 12.5 ± 2.26 mm (range, 10–16 mm), and the distance of the eye rotation toward the opposite direction of the symblepharon was 3.75 ± 1.39 mm (range, 2–7 mm). The fornix depths increased to 7.53 ± 1.64 mm (range, 3–9 mm), eye movement was significantly improved, and the distance of eye movement reaching 6.56 ± 1.24 mm (range, 4–8 mm) 1 month after the operation; the postoperative Schirmer II test (12.06 ± 2.90 mm, range, 6–17 mm) was similar to that before surgery. Goblet cells were finally found in fifteen patients by conjunctival impression cytology in the transplantation area of DPC, except for one patient who failed. DPC could be considered an alternative for ocular surface reconstruction of severe symblepharon. Covering tarsal defects with autologous mucosa is necessary for extensive reconstruction of the ocular surface.