Clinical Evaluation of Amniotic Membrane as a Substitute for Mucosal Graft

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of amniotic membrane (AM) as a new substitute for mucosa on patients who need mucosal grafting. METHODS: We assessed epithelial regrowth, scar formation and severity of adhesion after amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in 8 patients with defect of conjunctival surface, which were required mucosal graft from May 2000 to May 2001. RESULTS: AM was grafted well. conjunctival epithelialization was facilitated and inflammation was inhibited in all patients. We could also find there are no restrictions of ocular motility and sufficient deep fornix to fit prosthesis. But, one patient with distichiasis of upper lid was required additional blepharoplasty because of insufficient volume of amniotic membrane graft. CONCLUSIONS: AMT is one of the good surgical methods to overcome the limitation of auto-conjunctival graft and other mucosal graft such as delayed operating time, restriction of grafting size, operation for healthy site and contraction of graft.