Pneumatic retinopexy for inferior retinal breaks.

Abstract

To introduce a pneumatic retinopexy positioning for the management of retinal detachment from inferior retinal breaks after failed scleral buckle. Retrospective review of interventional consecutive case series. Seventeen eyes of 17 patients followed up from January 1993 to February 2005. Internal tamponade was achieved by 10 degrees Trendelenburg positioning, 10 degrees neck hyperextension, 10 degrees ocular supraduction and a large intravitreal gas bubble. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and retinal flattening were evaluated. All patients tolerated the procedure. Retinal reattachment was maintained in 15 of 17 patients (88.2%) followed up for a mean of 2.8 years (range, 0.1-11.5 years). Two patients experienced redetachment after 5 days and 4 months respectively. Six patients required antiglaucoma medications during the technique. Graduated body-neck-eye tilt allowed retinal reattachment in most eyes with inferior retinal detachment after failed scleral buckle.