Pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft fixed with sutures, glue, or autologous blood

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study compared surgical outcome of pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft fixed with sutures, tissue glue or autologous blood in relation to recurrence rate and surgical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical records of 148 patients operated for excision of primary nasal pterygium with conjunctival autograft were reviewed retrospectively for the period between January 2015 and June 2018. Based on surgical technique used to fix the graft, patients were divided into three groups. In Group A, 8 “0” vicryl suture was used to fix the graft in 90 patients. In Group B, fibrin glue was used to fix the graft in 23 patients. In Group C, autologous blood was used to fix the graft in 35 patients. Patients who were operated by single surgeon and had followed up for minimum six months were included in the study. RESULTS: Group A had recurrence in 7 cases (7.78%) whereas; Group B and C had no recurrence. But, in Group C two patients (5.71%) lost their graft. Overall recurrence rate in the study was 4.72%. CONCLUSION: Among the three techniques used in the study, recurrence was seen in the suture group and autologous blood group had loss of graft. The fibrin glue group was free of complications.