Porous Polyethylene Implant Associated With Delayed Orbital Complications and Osteomyelitis After Orbital Reconstruction.

Orbital implants are commonly used to repair orbital blowout fractures, to restore the functional and anatomical structure of the orbit. Porous polyethylene implants are a type of alloplastic implant and are widely used for orbital reconstruction as micropores facilitate the growth of fibers and blood vessels through the material. Rare complications associated with porous polyethylene implants used to treat blowout fractures include delayed orbital inflammation and osteomyelitis. The authors describe a 68-year-old man who presented with a 5-year delayed porous polyethylene implant infection and cicatricial ectropion with osteomyelitis after an orbital blowout fracture repair. The patient underwent surgery to incision and drainage of orbital abscess with ectropion correction surgery. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks due to osteomyelitis and made a good recovery.