Comparison of 4 Techniques for Limbal-Conjunctival Autograft Fixation in Primary Pterygium Surgery

Abstract

Purpose To compare 4 limbal-conjunctival autograft fixation techniques—conventional suture, commercial fibrin glue, autologous fibrin glue, and cautery—in primary nasal pterygium surgery. Methods This is a retrospective and descriptive study. The postoperative patient discomfort, graft edema, ocular inflammation, and other complications of 4 limbal-conjunctival autograft fixation techniques in primary nasal pterygium surgery were evaluated. Results Postoperative patient discomfort was significantly lower with the sutureless techniques (p<0.001), with fixation with cautery having the lowest rate of discomfort. Graft edema and ocular inflammation during the early postoperative period were significantly higher when fibrin glue techniques were used (p<0.001). The recurrence rate did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.682) among the 4 groups. Conclusion In primary nasal pterygium surgery, limbal-conjunctival autograft fixation using cautery is the technique with the lowest postoperative discomfort rate and without a statistically significant increase in recurrence rate when compared to conventional suture and fibrin glue techniques.