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. 2009:3:69-74.
Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Comparing techniques for pterygium surgery

Atilla Alpay  1 , Suat Hayri Uğurbaş, Berktuğ Erdoğan
Affiliations

Comparing techniques for pterygium surgery

Atilla Alpay et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2009.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare various techniques of pterygium surgery including bare sclera, intraoperative mitomycin C application, conjunctival flap reconstruction, and conjunctival autografting technique.

Methods: This study is designed to compare 4 currently used techniques in order to determine the complication and recurrence rates after pterygium exision. Included in the study were 77 eyes from 60 patients. Bare sclera technique was used to treat 21 primary pterygia;mitomycin C was used to treat 20 (16 primary, 4 recurrent) pterygia;18 (17 primary, 1 recurrent) pterygia were treated by conjuntival flap reconstruction;and 18 (9 primary, 9 recurrent) pterygia were treated by conjunctival autografting technique. All patients who underwent surgery were followed up for between 6 months and 2 years.

Results: Eight recurrences (38.09%) were observed in the bare sclera group whereas there were 5 (25%) recurrences in the mitomycin C group. In the conjunctival flap reconstruction group, 6 (33.33%) recurrences were detected. In the conjunctival autografting group, 3 recurrences were observed. There were no major complications threatening visual ability in the surgical patients.

Conclusion: A comparison of the groups demonstrated that the recurrence rate was highest in the bare sclera group, and lowest in conjunctival autografting and mitomycin C treatment groups respectively. Although the conjunctival autografting technique is a more difficult and time consuming technique than the others, cosmetic and surgical results were found to be superior. We advise conjunctival autografting for the treatment of pterygium in view of the high recurrence rates of other techniques, and the possible complications of mitomycin C treatment for benign disease.

Keywords: comparing; mitomycin C; pterygium; techniques.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Marking of donor conjunctival site.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Removal of donor conjunctival graft.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Transfer of graft to recipient area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Suturing of graft to the excised pterygium side with 8/0 vicryl suture.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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