Orbital development after enucleation in early childhood.

PURPOSE To identify growth retardation in the orbits of children who have undergone enucleation and orbital implantation. METHODS Children who underwent unilateral enucleation for retinoblastoma were examined. Any patient who had received external beam radiation or chemotherapy was excluded. Follow-up time was 5.5 to 10 years (mean, 8.33 years). Several linear measurements were made on the enucleated orbit and the fellow orbit. These measurements were compared using the paired Student t test and multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in any of the measured orbital dimensions between the enucleated and fellow orbits. CONCLUSIONS Enucleation in children, when combined with a large orbital implant, does not cause orbital growth retardation.