The efficacy of suture-less glue-free amniotic membrane graft in the management of pterygium

Abstract

Objectives: The definitive management of pterygium is surgery, but recurrence has remained a major challenge. This is to study the efficacy of suture-less glue-free amniotic membrane grafting in the prevention of recurrence and associated complicationsMaterials and Methods: It was a prospective interventional noncomparative study conducted between June 2016 and February 2017. Twenty-one consecutive patients with 21 various grades and types of pterygia were studied. The patients had pterygium excision with adjunctive suture-less dehydrated glue-free amniotic membrane (Bio DO ptix amniotic extracellular matrix by Bio Diogics Cordova, Tennessee, USA) graft.Results: There were 10 (47.2%) males and 11 (52.4%) females with a ratio of 0.9:1. The mean age was 36.3±8.74 years. The mean follow-up period was 14.6±3.09 months. Six (28.6%) of the patients had recurrent pterygia while 15 (71.4%) had primary pterygia. Three (14.3%) cases were stage 2 nasal pterygia, 14 (66.7%) were stage 3 nasal pterygia, 4 (19.0%) were stage 4 nasal pterygia. During post-operative follow up, 3 (14.3%) cases of pterygia reoccurred in three patients, two with recurrent pterygia and one had primary pterygium. There were 5 cases of pyogenic granuloma. Four of the pyogenic granulomas resolved with the of topical 0.1% Dexamethasone while one which did not resolve by the conservative management was surgically excised.Conclusion: The prevalence of pterygium reoccurrence was 14.3%. Suture-less glue free amniotic graft appeared efficacious in the management of pterygium in this study