Background/aims To evaluate the utility rate, indication, outcome, and cost of refrigeration and glycerol cryopreservation for storing anterior corneal buttons during endothelial keratoplasty for subsequent use in tectonic lamellar patch grafting. Method Anterior corneal buttons collected after precutting or prestripping during endothelial keratoplasty from January 2014 to December 2019 were preserved using the following protocol: (1) refrigeration for up to 4 weeks at 4° C in Optisol-GS and (2) glycerol cryopreservation for up to 2 years. The utility rate, outcome and cost of these cryopreserved anterior corneal buttons were retrospectively examined. Results During the 6-year study period, 26 anterior corneal buttons were refrigerated and 49 were cryopreserved for extended use. The utility rates for the refrigerated and cryopreserved anterior corneal buttons were 69.2% and 73.5%, respectively. Their average preservation periods were 0.53±0.05 and 12.76±0.94 months, respectively. Noninfection-related perforation was the leading indication for using the extendedly preserved anterior corneal buttons. The average postoperative follow-up periods were 10.03±2.91 and 14.35±2.17 months for refrigerated and cryopreserved anterior corneal buttons. Secondary keratoplasty was required by 7 of 18 (38.9%) and 6 of 36 (16.7%) patients receiving refrigerated and cryopreserved anterior corneal buttons, respectively. None of our patients developed graft infection from donor tissues. Conclusion Cryopreservation can safely extend the utility of anterior corneal buttons. This method not only reduced the wastage of the limited donor tissue but also was cost-effective. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as online supplemental information.

中文翻译：

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通过冷藏和甘油冷冻保存扩展前角膜按钮的效用：利用率和结果分析

背景/目的 评估在内皮角膜移植术期间储存前角膜纽扣的冷藏和甘油冷冻保存的利用率、适应症、结果和成本，以便随后用于构造板层补片移植。方法 使用以下方案保存 2014 年 1 月至 2019 年 12 月内皮角膜移植术期间预切割或预剥离后收集的前角膜纽扣：(1) 在 Optisol-GS 中于 4°C 冷藏长达 4 周；(2) 甘油冷冻保存长达 4 周。至2年。对这些冷冻保存的前角膜纽扣的利用率、结果和成本进行了回顾性检查。结果 在 6 年的研究期间，26 个前角膜纽扣被冷藏，49 个被冷冻保存以供长期使用。冷藏和冷冻保存的前角膜按钮的利用率分别为69.2%和73.5%。其平均保存期分别为0.53±0.05和12.76±0.94个月。非感染相关的穿孔是使用长期保存的前角膜纽扣的主要适应症。冷藏和冷冻保存的前角膜按钮的平均术后随访时间为10.03±2.91和14.35±2.17个月。18 名接受冷藏和冷冻保存前角膜按钮的患者中分别有 7 名 (38.9%) 和 36 名患者中的 6 名 (16.7%) 需要进行二次角膜移植术。我们的患者均未出现来自供体组织的移植物感染。结论 冷冻保存可以安全地延长前角膜纽扣的效用。这种方法不仅减少了有限供体组织的浪费，而且具有成本效益。与研究相关的所有数据都包含在文章中或作为在线补充信息上传。