A technique for suturing peripapillary radioactive plaques.

Abstract

To describe a technique for suturing radioactive plaques positioned posteriorly and adjacent to the optic nerve. Posterior and juxtapapillary notched radioactive iodine-125 plaques were sutured using four 5/0 nylon sutures. Two sutures were placed in the sclera at the anterior border of the plaque position and passed through the eyelets at the anterior edge of the plaque. Two sutures were attached to the posterior eyelets and brought to either side of the optic nerve, under the rectus muscles, to be sutured to sclera anterior to the insertion of the recti muscles. The position of the plaques was documented intraoperatively using sterile B-scan ultrasonography. Plaques positioned and sutured using this technique were found by ultrasonography to be tight up against the sclera and optic nerve.