Superficial Temporal Muscle Fascia Grafting: Successful Transplant of Surgical-induced Necrotizing Scleritis

To report the case of a surgical-induced necrotizing scleritis (SINS) following vitreoretinal surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, successfully managed by superficial muscle temporal fascia grafting. An 18-year-old teenager, with a history of a 23G vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of the left eye, presented with intense left ocular pain, decreased visual acuity to counting fingers and eye redness. Split lamp examination showed: Conjunctival infiltration with silicone oil, circumferential sclera thinning with ectasia of the underling uvea. The fundus examination showed an attached retina. Necrotizing scleritis was the retained diagnosis. SINS was the final diagnosis. An immunosuppressive therapy was started. Superficial muscle temporal fascia grafting was performed to cover the necrotizing sclera. The patient did well postoperatively without sclera thinning or ectasia and the fascia grafting still intact without retraction after 6 months of follow-up. This is the first case in the literature that used the superficial temporal muscle fascia as a graft for sclera reinforcement in SINS. We propose new support to reinforce the deficient sclera. This graft must be associated with prompt immunosuppressive therapy at high doses.