A Modified Suturing Technique to Produce Temporary Scleral Buckling Effect for Noncomplex Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Purpose: To introduce a surgical technique for temporary scleral buckling of noncomplex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using a combination of nonabsorbable and absorbable sutures that would induce minimal permanent refractive changes.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients (20 eyes) with noncomplex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were prospectively included. Scleral buckling was performed in all eligible subjects, and encircling buckling was added when necessary. The silicone elements were fixed on the sclera with 5-0 nonabsorbable sutures and tightened to form a ridge with 6-0 absorbable sutures. Best-corrected visual acuity, scleral ridge status, axial length, spherical diopter, and cylinder diopter were collected.

Results: All patients achieved primary retinal reattachment with significant improvement of best-corrected visual acuity after surgery. Scleral ridge was obvious and in situ at the 1-month follow-up but diminished at the 3-month follow-up. At the 1-month follow-up, axial length increased from 24.78 mm ± 2.14 mm preoperatively to 25.22 mm ± 2.11 mm, and cylinder diopter increased from -1.99 ± 1.03 to -2.95 ± 1.55 (both P < 0.001). At the 3-month follow-up, axial length, spherical diopter, and cylinder diopter decreased significantly compared with the values at the 1-month follow-up (all P < 0.05). No obvious complications were observed during the whole follow-up. Patients who underwent additional encircling buckling exhibited greater changes in axial length and cylinder diopter at the 1-month follow-up (both P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The modified technique of scleral buckling with/without encircling buckling using both nonabsorbable and absorbable sutures offers a safe and effective option to repair noncomplex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, which would offer an adequate temporary scleral buckling effect and induce minimal permanent refractive changes.