Comparison of fibrin sealant and sutures for conjunctival autograft fixation in pterygium surgery: one-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fibrin sealant in conjunctival autograft fixation in pterygium surgery.


METHODS
Prospective, comparative, interventional case series. 40 eyes of 40 patients with nasal primary pterygium, 24 male and 16 female, were enrolled. The patients were assigned to two groups and each contained 12 male and 8 female based on the pterygium area encroaching onto the cornea. In one group the conjunctival autograft was attached to the sclera with fibrin sealant and the other group with nylon 10-0 sutures. All the patients were followed up postoperatively on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 then at months 1, 2, 6 and 12. The main outcome measures included operating time, postoperative symptoms, graft success, recurrence rate and complications.


RESULTS
The average operating time was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the fibrin sealant group and fewer postoperative symptom complaints were received as well. By the end of 1-year follow-up, the recurrence rate was 5% in the fibrin sealant group and 10% in the suture group (p = 1.000), and there was no statistically significant difference in complications (p > 0.05) between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
It is safe and effective to use fibrin sealant for conjunctival autograft fixation. This method causes much fewer postoperative symptoms and shortens surgery time significantly, and the long-term results are also favorable.
Jiang
Jin
J
Eye Center, Affiliated Second Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Yang
Yinghang
Y
Zhang
Mei
M
Fu
Xiaojin
X
Bao
Xiaoyan
X
Yao
Ke
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013537:Sutures; D013997:Time Factors; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives