Autograft technique for pterygium surgery with no glue and no suture -cut and paste: Our experience

Background: Pterygium is a common disorder of the age and surgical excision with conjunctival autografting is the treatment of choice. But recurrence is the main problem. Use of sutures and glue to secure autograft is confronted with a number of adverse effects. We present the autograft technique for pterigium surgery using autologous fibrin derived from a thin layer of blood. Aim: To evaluate a suturesless, glue free conjunctival autograft technique for pterygium surgery. Materials and Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 patients were included. After surgical excision of pterygium, the recipient bed was allowed to achieve natural haemostasis. A thin layer of blood was allowed to cover the recipient bed to provide a source of autologous fibrin. A thin conjunctivalautograft free of Tenon’s, taken at the superotemporallimbus was placed over the recipient scleral bed without sutures or fibrin glue. Patient’s follow up was done for any complications. Results: Follow up of patients was done for 6 to 15 months. The mean surgical time was 15 mins. Graft displacement was seen in 3 cases on 1st post-operative day, which was repositioned. Graft retraction was seen in 1 case at 1 month post-operative follow up. In only one case, there was conjunctival granuloma, which was excised. No recurrences were noticed during follow-up period. Conclusions: Potential adverse reactions seen with the use of materials such as sutures or fibrin glue (foreign materials) can be prevented with the use of this simple technique for pterygium surgery. Keywords: Autologous fibrin, Conjunctivalautograft, Glue free, Pterygium, Sutureless