Hyaluronic acid is superior to autologous fat for treatment of temporal hollowing after lateral orbital wall decompression: A prospective interventional trial

Abstract

To compare injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) and autologous fat (AF) for the treatment of unsightly temporal hollowing after lateral orbital wall decompression in thyroid eye disease. In this nonblinded prospective comparative interventional study, patients received injections of HA in the right temple and AF in the left temple. Additional injections were given when needed at follow-up after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Follow-up included an interview; clinical examination with an evaluation of symmetry, contour, and skin surface; and ultrasound measurements. From photographs, the temporal hollowing was graded 1-3. The main endpoints were grading of temporal hollowing and temporal soft tissue thickness. Seventeen patients were treated bilaterally and 12 unilaterally (five received HA and seven AF). Injection(s) of HA and AF administered at each site were a median (range) of 1 (1-4) and 2 (1-5), respectively. The total combined volume of HA injected per site was 0.9 (0.2-2.0) ml and that of AF was 3.1 (0.5-9.6) ml. At the final examination, a statistically significant difference in mean (SD) grading scores of temporal hollowing due to HA (1.18 (0.26)) compared to those of AF (1.85 (0.44)) was observed (p < 0.001). Six months after administering an injection of HA, the temporal soft tissue thickness was 2.35 (0.24) cm compared to 2.19 (0.28) cm obtained with an injection of AF (p < 0.001). By using a linear mixed-effect model and adjusting for baseline values, age, sex, and refill, the difference in favor of HA persisted at all later follow-ups. Increased fibrosis of the subcutaneous tissue developed at 5/24 sites that received AF. Injection of HA is superior to that of AF for treating temporal hollowing after lateral orbital wall decompression.