Objectives: To determine the percent volume replacement by an implant and prosthesis, the long-term sequelae of poor volume replacement, and specific guidelines for volume replacement in pediatric patients.
Methods: A retrospective observational study of 16 pediatric patients who underwent enucleation (group 1) and 31 adult patients enucleated in childhood (group 2) was performed. The total volume replacement and the volume replacement by the implant were determined. The incidence of secondary surgical procedures for superior sulcus deformity, enophthalmos, ptosis, ectropion, and socket contraction was determined.
Results: The average percent volume replaced by the implants in group 1 patients was 68%. The average percent volume replaced by the implants in group 2 patients was 21%. Seventy-one percent of patients in group 2 underwent secondary implant surgery to augment volume and eliminate superior sulcus deformity and enophthalmos.
Conclusions: The placement of an adequately sized implant in pediatric patients may obviate the need for secondary augmentation of socket volume in adulthood. The authors suggest an implant 2 mm less in diameter than the axial length of the eye in pediatric patients.