Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of pterygium excision with a mini–conjunctival autograft coupled with amniotic membrane graft (AMG). Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients treated for pterygium between April 2001 and October 2004 at our institution. The pterygium was excised from the ocular surface in conventional manner. Then the conjunctival defect was covered with amniotic membrane. The membrane was secured with interrupted sutures. A mini conjunctival graft harvested from the limbus, usually superior, was secured on the globe over the amniotic membrane. Charts were reviewed for any intraoperative or postoperative complications and recurrences. Results: 16 eyes of 16 patients (19 pterygia total) underwent pterygium excision with mini–conjunctival graft combined with AMG. Nineteen pterygia were excised with the following distribution: 12 eyes nasal, 1 eye temporal, 3 eyes both. Eight of these were recurrent while 11 were primary. The average patient age was 56.8 years old. No intraoperative complications were noted. Postoperative complications consisted of one case of symblepharon and one case of slipped AMG. The procedure was successful in 17 pterygia (89.5%) with a lack of recurrence at follow–up that ranged up to 31 weeks with a mean follow–up of 13 weeks. Recurrence of 2mm or more occurred for 2 of the pterygia (10.5%) during this follow up period. Conclusions: Pterygium excision with combined mini–conjunctival autograft and AMG is a safe and effective technique in the management of pterygium.
Keywords: Pterygium • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • cornea: clinical science