Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the efficacy of a temperature-sensitive poloxamer/alginate mixture in reducing adhesions after strabismus surgery in a rabbit model.
Methods:
Thirty-six eyes of 18 rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. After the recession of the superior rectus muscle (SRM) in one eye of each rabbit, the poloxamer/alginate mixture was applied under and on top of the SRM (PA group). As a control, normal saline was injected subconjunctivally into the other eye of each rabbit. The adhesions among the SRM, sclera, and conjunctiva were evaluated. Inflammation was analyzed by H&E staining and the anti-CD11b antibody. Late fibrosis was assessed by Masson’s trichrome and α-smooth muscle actin antibodies. Adhesion, inflammation, and fibrosis were graded on a scale of 0 to 4.
Results:
Comparing the degree of adhesions between the groups at 1 day and 4 weeks after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference. However, the degree of adhesions in the PA group was lower than that of the control group at postoperative week 1 (p=0.030). Acute inflammation exhibited no statistically significant difference between both groups (p>0.05). At postoperative week 4, the infiltrated inflammatory cells were significantly reduced in the PA group (p=0.027). A significant difference was observed in late fibrosis between the groups by Masson’s trichrome and α-smooth muscle actin antibodies (p=0.033, p=0.022, respectively).
Conclusions:
The poloxamer/alginate mixture significantly decreased the adhesions after strabismus surgery in a rabbit model. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate the use of this mixture in other ophthalmic surgeries in preventing postoperative adhesions.
Keywords: 725 strabismus: treatment •
765 wound healing