Turkish journal of medical sciences | 2021
The Role of Gold Weight Implants in the Management of Paralytic Lagophthalmos.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM\nThe study aims to evaluate the usage of gold weight implants and monitor complaints and comfort of patients.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA hundred and ninety-one implantations performed between January 2009 and January 2019 were analyzed. Patient satisfaction was measured through telephone surveys.\n\n\nRESULTS\nSeventy-eight patients included in this study. The average follow-up time was 74,5 months. 93.5% of subjects had operational causes, among which the most widespread was acoustic neuroma (44.9%). The average time between facial paralysis and implantation was 141,1 days. Implantation was performed 26,6 days on average after acoustic neuroma surgery and 3,2 days on average after temporal zone malignancy surgery. Thirty-eight patients had their implants removed over either complication (n=14) or recovery (n=24). Recovery was the fastest after facial nerve decompression (mean= 4,75±3,6 (2-10) months) and the slowest after 7-12 cranial nerve transfer (mean= 18,3±8,2 (3-31) months). 26,9% (n=21) of patients had complications, of which the most common was extrusion (n=10). The overall satisfaction rate was 88,5% with the highest in visual acuity and the lowest in continuous requirement for artificial tear.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe gold weight implantation is an effective, reversible, and easy procedure significantly reducing complaints regarding paralytic lagophthalmos. Early implementation may be beneficial for ocular complications. A dynamic facial reanimation could terminate need of implant.