Limbal versus conjunctival autograft transplantation for advanced and recurrent pterygium.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the safety and efficacy of limbal versus conjunctival autograft transplantation for treating advanced and recurrent pterygia.


METHODS
Randomized, prospective clinical trial.


METHODS
Seventy-nine patients with advanced primary or recurrent pterygia treated by conjunctival (n = 36) or limbal-conjunctival (n = 43) autograft transplantation.


METHODS
Twenty four eyes with primary and 12 eyes with recurrent pterygia underwent free conjunctival autograft transplantation (group A), and 28 eyes with primary and 15 eyes with recurrent pterygia underwent limbal-conjunctival autograft transplantation (group B).


METHODS
Recurrence of pterygium and complications.


RESULTS
With a 3-year minimum of follow-up, 2 cases of primary (8.3%) and 4 cases of recurrent (33.3%) pterygia in group A showed recurrence. No patients in group B developed recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study both techniques were effective in cases of advanced primary pterygia with no statistically significant difference. Limbal transplantation appeared more effective than free conjunctival transplantation for treatment of recurrent pterygia (P < 0.05).
Al Fayez
Mashhoor F
MF
Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdul Aziz University Medical School, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D012449:Safety; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome