The cut-and-paste method for primary pterygium surgery: long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the recurrence rate, reoperation rate and side-effects of a novel technique for pterygium surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 461 eyes of 381 patients operated for primary nasal pterygium by the same surgeon between 1994 and 2003 and followed for 23 +/- 20 months (range 6-112 months).

METHODS

Autologous conjunctival grafts harvested at the superotemporal limbus were used to cover the sclera after pterygium excision. Using a retrospective chart review, the outcome after attaching the transplant to the sclera with a fibrin tissue adhesive (n = 325) was compared to the outcome after graft attachment using absorbable sutures (n = 136).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Recurrence rate, reoperation rate and complications.

RESULTS

The recurrence rate was 5.3% in the glue group and 13.5% in the suture group (p = 0.01). The reoperation rates were 1.2% and 3.3%, respectively (p = 0.31). Complications, such as transient transplant oedema and persistent corneal epithelial defects, occurred equally in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Using a fibrin tissue adhesive instead of sutures when attaching the conjunctival transplant in primary pterygium surgery results in a significantly lower recurrence rate.