Outcome of conjunctival flap repair for corneal defects with and without an acellular submucosa implant in 73 canine eyes

ObjectiveTo report and compare the success rate of a conjunctival pedicle flap (CPF) alone vs. a CPF with an underlying acellular submucosa implant for the repair of deep or perforating corneal wounds in dogs. ProceduresRecords of 69 dogs (73 eyes) receiving a CPF with or without an acellular submucosa implant between 2004 and 2012 were reviewed. Successful outcome was defined as a comfortable eye with vision at the last post-operative evaluation. Age, breed, underlying corneal disease, surgical time, lesion characteristics, topical therapies, and postoperative complications were investigated. ResultsGroups consisted of dogs that had a CPF alone (n=37) and dogs that had a CPF plus an acellular submucosa implant (n=36). Age, lesion size, surgical time, and time to discontinuation of topical anti-proteolytic medications was not significant between groups. Topical antibiotic use was terminated 13days sooner (P0.01) in dogs with an acellular submucosa implant. The combined success rate of all corneal wounds was 93% with success rate of corneal perforations, descemetoceles, and deep stromal wounds being 89%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. There was no difference in overall success rate between groups. Increasing age was associated with a negative outcome (P0.01). Lesion size, presence of a corneal perforation, and concurrent keratoconjunctivitis sicca was not associated with a negative outcome. ConclusionsA comparable success rate is achieved for deep or perforating corneal wounds stabilized with a CPF alone vs. a CPF plus acellular submucosa. Glaucoma, persistent uveitis, and cataract formation were not reported as post-operative complications in this study population.