PubMed2007
INTRODUCTION: For the surgical therapy of lagophthalmos rigid gold implants were used. There are a lot of studies using rigid gold implants with widely different complications. In the primary study the small amount of patients is often a problem. The aim of our study was to survey the postoperative results and complications after insertion of rigid gold implants and to statistically compare the results with a meta-analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 38 publications on 1000 rigid gold implants were analyzed in the context of a meta-analysis of the postoperative results. RESULTS: Complete lid closure can be obtained in 84.5 % with the rigid gold implants. The postoperative complication rates were 13.4 % for bulging, 6.4 % for migration, 6.8 % for extrusion, 11.5 % for corneal astigmatism and 7.0 % postoperative infections. DISCUSSION: Lidloading is a very simple and reversible procedure for the surgical treatment of lagophthalmos. The statistical analysis in using rigid gold implants showed a significant rate of postoperative complications. To increase the effectivity of the treatment method these results should be taken into account for alternative implants.