Surgical experience and outcome of scleral buckling procedures in retinal detachment

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the surgeons' experience on the anatomical and functional outcome of primary scleral buckling surgery in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Methods The charts of patients presenting with a retinal detachment between 2000 end 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients with macular involvement treated with scleral buckling surgery were included. The surgeons were designated according to the “on call” list. Junior surgeons were fellows with less than 2 years of experience, physicians with more than 2 years of experience were defined as senior surgeons. Results Among the 115 included patients, 76 (65,8%) were operated by senior surgeons. The age, duration of symptoms, initial visual acuity, extension of the retinal detachment were similar in both groups. The primary reattachment rate was 87,7% in the senior surgeon group versus 92,1% in the junior surgeon group (p=0,36). In the eyes operated by senior surgeons, the final visual acuity was better than 20/40 in 78,5% versus 63,2% in eyes operated by junior surgeons (p=0,09).However, in phakic eyes with limited retinal detachments, the senior surgeons achieved better functional results (p<0.01). Conclusion The surgical experience, except in some subgroups of patients, did not significantly influence the anatomical or the functional overall outcome of patients undergoing primary scleral buckling surgery in retinal detachment with macular involvement.