comparison of fibrovascular ingrowth between primary and secondary orbital implants

purpose: to compare the rate of fibrovascular ingrowth between primary and secondary orbital implants at varying time intervals after implantation. methods: we prospectively compared the rate of fibrovascular ingrowth between primary and secondary implants by mri and scinitigraphy in patients who underwent orbital implant surgery, 6 months after the operation. results: overall 103 patients underwent hydroxyapatite (ha) implantation including 75 cases of primary and 28 cases of secondary implants. of 75 patients with primary implants, vascularization was seen in 13 (18%) by 1 month, 33 (45%) by 2 months, 58 (78%) by 3 months, and 70 (94%) patients by 6 months. however in 5 (6%) patients no vascularization was documented by mri after 6 months. of 26 cases of secondary implants, central vascularization was seen in 2 (7%) by 1 month, in 8 (29%) by 2 months, in 19 (68%) by 3 months, and in 23 (82%) by 6 months. however, in 5 (18%) cases no vascularization was seen after 6 months. conclusion: this study demonstrated consistent central vascularization of hydroxyapatite orbital implants by mri in the majority of cases after 6 months equally in primary and secondary implants.