Posters

Conjunctival autograft and fibrin glue for primary pterygium: global outcomes and comparison between expert and trainee ophthalmologists

Poster Details

First Author: P.Arriola-Villalobos SPAIN

Co Author(s):    J. Peraza-Nieves   P. Cifuentes-Canorea   D. Diaz-Valle   J. Gegúndez-Fernandez   J. Benítez-del-Castillo  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the outcomes of autoconjunctival graft attached with fibrin glue (FG) for primary pterygium, comparing expert and trainee ophthalmologists.

Setting:

Ophthalmology Department. Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Madrid. Spain.

Methods:

A retrospective, comparative, non-randomized, interventional study was carried out in 283 eyes of 240 patients with a mean age of 47.15±12.99 years. 46.3% of the patients were male, 28.3% Caucasian and 70.4% Hispanic. Included patients had primary pterygium (93.3% nasal, 3.9% temporal, 2.8% both locations) that was subjected to surgery (conjunctival autograft fixed using FG) by expert (150 eyes) or trainee ophthalmologists (133 eyes). Mean follow-up was 8.33 months. Mean outcome measures were recurrence rate, reoperation rate and complications.

Results:

Recurrence rate was 6.7%, being 5.3% in the expert ophthalmologists group and 8.3% in trainee group (p=0.32). The reoperation rates were 1.8%, 0.7% and 3% (p=0.19), respectively. Complications, such as transient graft oedema, graft dehiscence, haematic collection or ocular hypertension, occurred equally in both groups, except for granuloma, which was more frequent in trainee ophthalmologists group (8.3% vs. 2.7%, p=0.036). Reoperation was more frequent in patients younger than 40 years (p=0.036).

Conclusions:

Autoconjunctival grafting and FG achieved good outcomes in primary pterygium surgery. The experience of the surgeon seems to influence success rates, indicating the need to supervise trainee surgeons. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE