Comparison of mini-flap technique and conjunctival autograft transplantation without mitomycin C in primary and recurrent pterygium.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to compare postoperative results of pterygium surgery between mini-flap technique and conjunctival autograft transplantation without application of mitomycin C.


METHODS
This is a retrospective, comparative and observational study. Forty-one eyes underwent conjunctival autograft transplantation without mitomycin C between March 1999 and December 2001 and 49 eyes with pterygium received conjunctival mini-flap without mitomycin C by the same surgeon between January 2002 and February 2004. The main outcome measurement was postoperative recurrence.


RESULTS
The recurrence rate in those with primary pterygium was 4.7% (2 of 43) in the mini-flap group and 17.6% (6 of 34) in the conjunctival autograft group. In the patients with recurrent pterygium, recurrence was observed in 1 of 6 cases (16.7%) in the mini-flap group and 1 of 7 cases (14.3%) in the conjunctival autograft group. Overall, the conjunctival mini-flap group without use of mitomycin C had a significantly lower rate of recurrence (6.1%) than the conjunctival autograft transplantation group without mitomycin C (17.1%) (p = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
The mini-flap technique without use of mitomycin C in pterygium surgery is safe and effective in reducing the postoperative recurrence of primary pterygium compared to the conjunctival autograft technique.
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Min
M
Kim
So Hyang
SH
Chung
Jae Hwan
JH
Lee
Hyung Keun
HK
Lee
Kyoung Yul
KY
Seo
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011625:Pterygium / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D016685:Mitomycin