Evaluation of the effect of cryotherapy in limbal conjunctival autograft technique in pterygium surgery

Abstract

Aim: To compare the complication and recurrence rates in patients undergoing limbal conjunctival autograft with or without adjuvant cryotherapy for primary or recurrent pterygia.

Methods: All information about the cases operated between January 2014 and January 2019 was scanned from the electronic database. Fifty-three eyes undergoing limbal conjunctival autograft combined with cryotherapy were classified as Group 1, and 47 eyes undergoing only limbal conjunctival autograft were classified as Group 2. Any development of new fibrovascular tissue from the limbus to the cornea after surgery was considered a recurrence. Any complications occurring during and after surgery were noted.

Results: In Group 1, 45 of the 53 patients had primary and eight had recurrent pterygia. In Group 2, 41 of the 47 patients had primary and six had recurrent pterygia. Both groups were similar in terms of age and gender (p=0.880 and p=0.835, respectively). The mean follow-up period was 27.0±8.6 months in Group 1 and 28.7±7.8 months in Group 2 (p=0.287). No recurrences were observed during the follow-up period in Group 1, while the recurrence rate in Group 2 was 10.6% (p=0.02). All relapses occurred within the first year. No complications were observed during surgery in either group. Graft oedema was observed in the early post-operative period in four patients in Group 1 and three patients in Group 2.

Conclusion: Limbal conjunctival graft technique combined with cryotherapy is a successful and reliable method in the treatment of primary and recurrent pterygium.