Research Article: Feasibility and outcomes of break-upward side-lying positioning after PPV for inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a retrospective case series
Abstract:
To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of adopting a break-upward side-lying position after silicone oil tamponade in patients with inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 patients (24 eyes) with inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with silicone oil tamponade at our hospital between January 2023 and December 2024. All patients adopted a break-upward side-lying position postoperatively and were followed for at least 6?months. Outcome measures included retinal reattachment rate, break closure, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), incidence of complications, and patient adherence to postoperative positioning.
All 24 patients achieved complete retinal reattachment with full closure of the retinal breaks, yielding a 100% re-attachment rate. BCVA showed varying degrees of improvement at 6?months postoperatively. Only two patients developed elevated intraocular pressure, which resolved with medical treatment. No significant anterior chamber inflammation, corneal complications, or silicone oil migration was observed. Patient adherence and comfort with the prescribed positioning were rated as good. Our findings suggest that side-lying positioning strategy is a feasible and safe postoperative management approach for patients undergoing PPV with silicone oil tamponade for inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
In patients with inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with silicone oil tamponade, break-upward side-lying positioning is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated postoperative management strategy, and may serve as a valuable supplement or alternative to the traditional prone position.
Introduction:
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a common vision-threatening ophthalmic disease. Without timely treatment, patients are likely to experience irreversible and permanent loss of visual function ( 1 , 2 ). With the advancement of minimally invasive PPV, combined tamponade with silicone oil or gas has become an essential approach for the treatment of retinal detachment ( 3 ). As an intraocular tamponade, silicone oil offers unique advantages in managing retinal re-attachment due to its relatively low…
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