Postoperative adhesions appear as a major complication in strabismus surgery that is avoided by the usage of amniotic membrane. It is assumed that amniotic membrane forms a biological barrier during healing and benefits patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Well if the following piece of information is to be believed then, this is not true. Investigators from the Cairo University claim that employment of amniotic membrane triggers complications in strabismus surgery.
During the investigation, scientists shed light on the possible way amniotic membranes wrap the extra ocular muscles with lyophilized amniotic membrane in a strabismus re-operation on both medial rectus muscles. Since the surgical result was not optimal, patients may be recommended to go through a fourth procedure containing exploration of the medial rectus muscles. Extensive adhesions and inelastic, fibrotic muscles were registered instead of less scarring. Amniotic membrane is available as fresh or preserved and those preserved are in the form of frozen, air-dried, or freeze-dried.
Apart from being expensive, frozen amniotic membrane has to be probably stored at -80°C, thus limiting its availability. Dried amniotic membrane on the other hand is more affordable and does not require special storage conditions. Dr. Rehab Kassem and colleagues assert that the acquired results may have been due to the use of dried amniotic membrane.
The research was published in the December 2010 issue of the Journal of AAPOS.