[Drug delivery systems for intraocular applications]. / Dispositifs de délivrance de principes actifs pour des applications ophtalmologiques.

Numerous drug delivery systems (DDSs) can be used as intraocular tools to provide a sustained and calibrated release for a specific drug. Great progress has been made on the design, biocompatibility, bioavailability, and efficacy of DDSs. Although several of them are undergoing clinical trials, a few are already on the market and could be of a routine use in clinical practice. Moreover, miniaturization of the implants makes them less and less traumatic for the eye tissues and some DDSs are now able to target certain cells or tissues specifically. An overview of ocular implants with therapeutic application potentials is provided.

Intraocular implants for extended drug delivery: therapeutic applications.

An overview of ocular implants with therapeutic application potentials is provided. Various types of implants can be used as slow release devices delivering locally the needed drug for an extended period of time. Thus, multiple periocular or intraocular injections of the drug can be circumvented and secondary complications minimized. The various compositions of polymers fulfilling specific delivery goals are described. Several of these implants are undergoing clinical trials while a few are already commercialized. Despite the paramount progress in design, safety and efficacy, the place of these implants in our clinical therapeutic arsenal remains limited. Miniaturization of the implants allowing for their direct injection without the need for a complicated surgery is a necessary development avenue. Particulate systems which can be engineered to target specifically certain cells or tissues are another promising alternative. For ocular diseases affecting the choroid and outer retina, transscleral or intrasscleral implants are gaining momentum.

[Results of treating rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade]. / Résultats du traitement du décollement de rétine rhegmatogène par vitrectomie et tamponnement interne par huile de silicone.

INTRODUCTION: Silicone oil is used in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment when there is a high risk of postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). This type of internal tamponade can be responsible for serious side effects. Removal of silicone oil is necessary to ensure a long-lasting functional result. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of using a transient internal tamponade with silicone oil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with internal tamponade with silicone oil for the first time in a 1-year period (January 2001 to December 2001) was conducted. We studied the type of retinal detachment, treatment before vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade, indication for silicone oil tamponade, surgical steps and their results, causes of recurrent retinal detachment, and final visual acuity. Anatomical success was defined as a reattached retina after silicone oil removal. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were included. Anatomical success was achieved, after one or several procedures, in 71 patients (76.3%). The mean total number of surgical procedures was 2.6. After initial surgery, recurrence of retinal detachment after removal of silicone oil occurred in 17.0% of the cases. Recurrence of retinal detachment under silicone oil occurred in 45.1% of the cases; the cause of the recurrence was PVR in 97.6% of those patients. No serious complication of silicone oil tamponade occurred. The mean duration of the tamponade was 6.7 months. The best results were achieved among patients showing no recurrence with silicone oil: visual acuity above 4/200 in 84.6% of the patients, above 20/200 in 61.5% of the patients and above 80/200 in 20.5% of the patients. In case of recurrence with silicone oil treatment, visual acuity reached 4/200 in 70.4% of the patients and was above 20/200 in 25.9% of the patients. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of this study are equivalent to those of studies in which analysis was made after removal of silicone oil. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy remains the only risk factor of retinal detachment recurrence with silicone oil (p<0.01). The number of previous surgeries is not a risk factor for postoperative PVR. Retinectomy is a surgical procedure that seems to improve the results in cases of severe PVR.

[Molluscum contagiosum of the eyelid]. / Molluscum contagiosum de la paupière inférieure.

A 6-year-old girl had a single molluscum contagiosum of the lower eyelid. Clinically, the tumor had grown slowly since it had been discovered 8 months before the child was seen at our consultation. It appeared as a nodular lesion on the middle part of the eyelid. Its surface was irregular and its color was the same as the epidermis. It was surgically excised, using the shaving biopsy technique. Its histopathological study showed a papillomatous lesion with the typical features of a molluscum contagiosum. The patient was lost to follow-up soon after the surgery.

[Chalazion mimicking an eyelid tumor]. / Forme pseudotumorale d'un chalazion.

A 3-year-old girl had a tumor growing for a month on the superior right eyelid, attached on the free margin of the eyelid and partially necrotic. A surgical excision was performed under general anesthesia. The histopathological study found an inflammatory lesion with epithelioid and giant cells, evidence of a granuloma, suggesting the diagnosis of chalazion. This case shows the various clinical presentations of this common and benign disease of the eyelid.

[Inflammatory pseudotumor of the caruncle]. / Pseudotumeur inflammatoire de la caroncule.

A 6-year-old girl exhibited a recent caruncular tumor which was increasing in size. It was removed after a CT scan had showed a both medial and superficial mass. Fortunately, histological tests only found inflammatory cells attesting that the mass was due to an inflammation of this area. Inflammation is one of the different processes that may increase the size of the caruncle, but sometimes, only histopathology can provide conclusive evidence.

[Vitrectomy without scleral buckle versus ab-externo approach for pseudophakic retinal detachment: comparative retrospective study]. / Traitement du décollement de rétine du pseudophaque: étude rétrospective comparant la vitrectomie sans indentation au traitement ab-externo.

PURPOSE: Retinal detachment (RD) is a major complication of cataract surgery, which can be treated by either primary vitrectomy without indentation or the scleral buckling procedure. The aim of this study is to compare the results of these two techniques for the treatment of pseudophakic RD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The charts of 40 patients (40 eyes) treated with scleral buckling for a primary pseudophakic RD were retrospectively studied and compared to the charts of 32 patients (32 eyes) treated with primary vitrectomy without scleral buckle during the same period by the same surgeons. To obtain comparable samples, patients with giant retinal tears, vitreous hemorrhage, and severe preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) were not included. Minimal follow-up was 6 months. RESULTS: The primary success rate was 84% in the vitrectomy group and 82.5% in the ab-externo group. Final anatomical success was observed in 100% of cases in the vitrectomy group and in 95% of cases in the ab-externo group. Final visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 44% of cases in the vitrectomy group and 37.5% in the ab-externo group. The duration of the surgery was significantly lower in the ab-externo group, whereas the hospital stay tended to be lower in the vitrectomy group. In the vitrectomy group, postoperative PVR developed in 3 eyes and new or undetected breaks were responsible for failure of the initial procedure in 2 eyes. CONCLUSION: Primary vitrectomy appears to be as effective as scleral buckling procedures for the treatment of pseudophakic RD.

[Episcleral Miragel buckling elements removal. A clinical case-series]. / Ablation des indentations épisclérales en Miragel: étude clinique rétrospective.

INTRODUCTION: Due to a long-term alteration in their chemical composition, resulting in excessive swelling, Miragel scleral buckles are now commonly removed. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and the outcome of patients needing Miragel buckling removal. METHODS: Retrospective analysis between 1997 and 1999 of the charts of patients successfully treated for retinal detachment and in whom a Miragelepiscleral buckle was removed after surgery with a minimal follow-up of 6 months after removal. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 24 eyes of 13 women and 11 men. Their mean age at removal was 47.1+/-18.4 years. The removed buckle was encircling in nine cases (37.5%), circumferential (<180 degrees ) in 11 cases (45.8%) and radial in four cases (16.7%). An exposed buckle was observed in two cases (8.3%). Reasons for removal were excessive swelling of the buckle inducing ocular motility disturbance in 23 cases and infection of an extruded buckle in only one case. The mean time between implantation and removal was 91.9+/-28.7 months (range 20-120). One case of scleral perforation during removal and one case of retinal redetachment were observed. Three cases of persistent ocular motility disturbance after removal were also noted. CONCLUSION: Late swelling of the buckle was the main reason for removal. Patients undergoing Miragel buckling removal should be informed of scleral perforation during removal, retinal redetachment and persistence of ocular motility disturbance as possible complications.

[Anterior and antero-lateral surgery of the lower cervical spine (25 years after H. Verbiest). 2: Indications, results, complications)]. / Chirurgie antérieure et antéro-latérale du rachis cervical inférieur. (Vingt-cinq ans après H. Verbiest).Deuxième partie: Indicaions, rèsultats, complications.

The present course on the anterior and antero-lateral surgical approach of the lower cervical spine was organized for the neurosurgery trainees by the French Speaking Neurosurgical Society, and was held during the winter meeting in December 1995. The aim of this course was to recall the basic technical principles of the microsurgical anterior cervical approach, and to discuss the main indications of this surgical treatment. Many theoretical points were strengthened by the author's personal experience and comments. In Part I, the technical bases of the different anterior or antero-lateral approaches were presented (1996, 42 : 105-122). In the present Part II, the main indications of the anterior surgical approach to the cervical disk or the vertebral body are detailed, and the requirement of a bone graft and/or an osteosynthesis are discussed with their consequences on the final results. Secondly, variants of the surgical technics in use in case of cervical spinal instability are commented. Then various approaches to the cervical spinal tumors and to the vertebral artery are detailed and commented. Lastly, general and specific complications of the anterior cervical approach are listed with their rate of occurrence, and their prevention and management are discussed.

[Anterior and anterolateral surgery of the lower cervical spine (25 years after H. Verbiest). I: Technical bases]. / Chirurgie antérieure et antéro-latérale du rachis cervical inférieur. (Vingt-cinq ans après H. Verbiest). Première partie: les bases techniques.

The anterior approach to the cervical spine is currently a worldwide traditional surgical technique used by neurosurgeons or orthopedists in the treatment of traumatic, degenerative or tumoral cervical spinal lesions. Many original rules of these techniques were raised by pioneers as R. Cloward and H. Verbiest, and are still valid. Advances in the surgical armentarium and in bio-materials markedly improved the original technique and subsequently improved the clinical results. The present course was organized for the neurosurgery trainees by the French Speaking Neurosurgical Society, and was helded during the winter meeting in December 1995. The aim of this course is to recall the basic technical principles of the microsurgical anterior cervical approach, and to discuss the main indications of this surgical treatment. Many theoretical points are strengthened by the author's personal experience and comments. Part I presents the different anterior or antero-lateral approaches which any surgeon involved in cervical spine surgery actually needs to know. Secondly, the materials and technical basis needed to achieve an interbody graft or fusion or fixation are described. Lastly, some practical applications are detailed as a microdiscectomy, a medial or lateral cervical spine decompression, and the use of acrylic plastic or prothesis for a cervical vertebral replacement.