Purpose

To evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes of autologous fat grafting for orbital volume restoration in anophthalmic sockets with enophthalmos.

---

Methods

Prospective case series of consecutive patients (August 2013–July 2025). Clinical examination, Hertel exophthalmometry, and orbital CT were performed before and after intraorbital lipofilling (Coleman’s technique). Fat was harvested from the inner thigh and injected into the inferolateral post-septal extraconal compartment. Follow-up: 2–60 months (median: 7).

---

Results

Thirteen sockets in 13 patients (10 female; median age: 51 years). Etiologies: trauma (38.5%), glaucoma (23.1%), infection (15.4%), others. Prior surgeries: 1–5 per patient. Injected volume: 3.7–6.0 mL (median: 4.2 mL). Enophthalmos reduction of 1–5 mm (median: 2 mm) observed in 12 evaluable patients (p0.05). Three patients required re-grafting; one developed a transient fat cyst resolved with antibiotics.

---

Conclusion

Autologous fat grafting is a safe, minimally invasive, and reproducible technique for orbital volumization in anophthalmic sockets. Clinical and radiological outcomes confirmed effectiveness across diverse etiologies and surgical backgrounds. Volumetric gain was independent of prior surgical manipulation, supporting lipofilling even in complex, multi-operated sockets and reinforcing its role in secondary volumetric management of Post-Enucleation/Evisceration Socket Syndrome.

---

Additional Authors

First name	Last name	Base Hospital / Institution
Maria Antonieta	Guinguerra Nascimento	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Laura	Goldfarb Cyrino	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Carolina	Passareli Diniz	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Vitor	Ribeiro	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Yolanda	Mares Galvão	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Carlos Augusto	Ferraresi Sampaio	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Mariana	Meireles	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Suzana	Matayoshi	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Jose Byron	Fernandes	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Eloisa Maria	Gebrim	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP
Mario	Padula	Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP

↑ Back to top