A comparative study of suture-less and glue-free versus sutured conjunctival autograft for the management of primary pterygium

Abstract

Background and Aim: Various modalities are currently available for the management of pterygium, of which free limbal conjunctival autograft is now the most preferred method to prevent recurrence. The most common method for the fixation of autograft, at the required site, is by suturing, but it is associated with various complications. Suture-less and glue-free conjunctival autograft is a new, easy, and cheaper technique for the management of pterygium. This study was conceptualized to compare the two most commonly used techniques for conjunctival autograft fixation in pterygium surgery, either sutureless, glue-free fixation, or sutured graft. Materials and Methods: This prospective, longitudinal study included 100 eyes of 100 patients who were divided into two groups A and B, who underwent pterygium surgery with sutureless conjunctival autografting and sutured conjunctival autografting with 10'0 nylon sutures, respectively, under local anesthesia. Both the groups were compared with respect to mean operating time and postoperative complications. Data were analyzed with OpenEpi online software version 3 using t-test. Results: Mean operating time was significantly less (24.35 ± 1.22 min) in Group A as compared to Group B (28.62 ± 1.78 min) (P = 0.009). Postoperative symptoms were more in sutured conjunctival autograft group (80%) as compared to the sutureless conjunctival autograft group (10%). Two patients had graft displacement in group A. Recurrence was noted in one patient in Group A and in two patients in Group B. Conclusion: Sutureless and glue-free conjunctival autografting is less time-consuming and is associated with lesser postoperative complications as compared to sutured conjunctival autografting.

Keywords

• autograft
• fibrin
• pterygium
• sutures