Histopathologic Change in the Anterior Part of the Posterior Fixation Suture After a Faden Operation in an Animal Model.

PURPOSE: To observe postoperative histological changes in the anterior part of the posterior fixation suture after a Faden operation in an animal model.

METHODS: A posterior fixation suture was placed at two points 6 mm posterior to the insertion of the extraocular muscle on the superior rectus muscle of the right eye in eight rabbits. The superior rectus muscle of the left eye was used as a control. The eyes were enucleated and the anterior portion of the posterior fixation suture, including the myoscleral junction, was extracted 4 weeks after surgery. Postoperative adhesion was graded from 0 to 4 based on histologic findings (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining).

RESULTS: Histological evaluation revealed diffuse fibrosis at the myoscleral junction and the anterior part of the posterior fixation suture after the Faden operation. The graded scores for fibrosis, acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, and foreign body reactions in the Faden operation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P < .05). Postoperative diffuse fibrosis of the myoscleral junction and anterior-to-posterior fixation sutures were observed in an animal model.

CONCLUSIONS: Histologic changes may affect ocular alignment and motility, making reoperation unpredictable after the Faden procedure. [ J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus . 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.] .