A Comparative Study on Conjunctival Rotational Flap and Autograft Techniques in Pterygium Surgery at AL-Hussain Teaching Hospital from 2009-2015

Purpose: The goal of this study is to compare the outcomes of primary pterygium surgery using a conjunctival flap versus an autograft in terms of recurrence rate and complications.

Methods: With an 18-month follow-up, a total of 70 patients (thirty male and forty female) were operated on for primary pterygium using conjunctival auto grafts (in 36 eyes) or conjunctival flaps (in 34 eyes) at AL-Hussain teaching hospital-Kerbala. Patients were asked to perform voluntary examinations of their ocular surface status.

Results: The average age was 43.5 years (range 21-70) 42.65% of the patients were male, and 70% of them worked primarily outdoors. The average period of follow-up was 12 months (3-18).

The graft recurrence rate was 8.3 percent, while the flap recurrence rate was 8.8 percent; however, oedema was more prevalent in the graft, while granuloma was absent in both.

Conclusions: There were no statistically significant differences in recurrence rates after this long follow-up period for conjunctival flap and autograft surgeries, despite the fact that autograft is a longer technique with more postoperative oedema.