Primary Retinal Detachment

Anatomical Results 127
surgery. The temporary balloon buckle was deflated and removed
after 1 week.
Anatomical Results
Since subretinal fluid was not drained, complete disappearance of
fluid in some eyes could take several days. Consequently, when applying
minimal segmental buckling without drainage, one has to
be able to differentiate between delayed absorption of subretinal
fluid, residual tractional detachment, and surgical failure to avoid
unnecessary reoperations.
The results after segmental sponges without drainage, applied
in the first four series, were as follows: in the first series primary
attachment was achieved in 672 eyes (89%),in the second in 99 eyes
(93%), in the third in 35 eyes (100%), and in the fourth series in
65 eyes (96%). In the fifth series of 500 detachments treated with
the temporary balloon buckle, the retina was attached and remained
attached after removal of the balloon in 454 eyes or in 91%
(Table 6.2).
Thus, after minimal segmental buckling, limited to the area of
the break(s) and without drainage of subretinal fluid of 1,462
Table 6.2. Primary attachment after minimal segmental buckling (sponges
or balloons) without drainage of 1,462 retinal detachments
Series Detachment Primary attachment
First [21, 39] 752 672 (89%)
Second [26, 40] 107 99 (93%)
Third [41] 35 35 (100%)
Fourth [42] 68 65 (96%)
Fifth [37] a 500 454 (91%)
Total 1,462 1,325 (91%)
a Treated with balloon, attachment sustained after removal of balloon