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Full- versus partial-thickness sutures: experimental models of corneal injury repair

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of full-thickness (FT) versus partial-thickness (PT) sutures in a full-thickness corneal wound in an animal model.

Methods

This is a prospective, experimental, comparative, longitudinal study. A 6-mm linear, full-thickness corneal incision was performed on the right eye of eight domestic pigs. Eyes were randomly assigned for repair with interrupted PT (80–90% depth) sutures or FT 10-0 nylon sutures. Anterior segment OCT, corneal pachymetry and clinical photographs were obtained 1, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively. Corneal thickness, depth of suture placement, perilesional edema, coaptation of wound edges and complications were noted. Histopathologic examination was performed at 8 weeks.

Results

100% of the eyes with FT sutures developed a linear, less opaque scar. 100% of the eyes with PT developed a dense, opaque stromal scar (p = 0.02). Vascularization of the cornea was present in 75% of PT group and 25% in the FT group (p = 0.50). As the corneas healed, there was a marked trend toward thicker corneas in the PT group versus FT group with a median difference of − 63 µm at week 1 [median 788 µm vs. 725 µm, (p = 0.11)], − 38 µm at week 4, (724 µm vs. 686 µm, (p = 0.63)) and − 47 µm median difference at week 8 with (670 µm vs. 623 µm, (p = 0.06)). Histopathology showed disorganization of the collagen fibers and the formation of a retrocorneal fibrous membrane in the PT group.

Conclusions

The FT group presented less corneal edema at week 8 with a more linear and less opaque scar. Histopathology showed a better-organized scar and endothelialization without the formation of a fibrous membrane.

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Funding

This project was financed by a pilot-study fund from the Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México, Hospital “Dr. Luis Sánchez Bulnes”, Ciudad de México, México, and was approved by the Ethics Committee of this institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Retina Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, Hospital “Dr. Luis Sánchez Bulnes”, Vicente García Torres 46, San Lucas, Coyoacan, C.P. 04030, Mexico City, Mexico

    José Dalma-Weiszhausz, Mauricio Galván-Chávez, Ethel Beatriz Guinto-Arcos, Daniel Yoshiro Miyake-Martínez, Abelardo Rodríguez-Reyes, Maria F. Golzarri, Christian Sebastián-Arellano, Ned Merari Dávila-Ávila & Carlos Eduardo Ríos-Elizondo

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  1. José Dalma-Weiszhausz
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  2. Mauricio Galván-Chávez
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  3. Ethel Beatriz Guinto-Arcos
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  4. Daniel Yoshiro Miyake-Martínez
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  8. Ned Merari Dávila-Ávila
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  9. Carlos Eduardo Ríos-Elizondo
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Correspondence to José Dalma-Weiszhausz.

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Dalma-Weiszhausz, J., Galván-Chávez, M., Guinto-Arcos, E.B. et al. Full- versus partial-thickness sutures: experimental models of corneal injury repair. Int Ophthalmol 41, 325–334 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01585-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01585-0

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