Effect of Inferior Conjunctival Transposition Flap Surgery for Primary Pterygium

Seong Min Hong; Sang Jun Ko; Sang Duck Kim

doi:10.3341/jkos.2009.50.12.1774

Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.50(12) > 1008438

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Hong, Ko, and Kim: Effect of Inferior Conjunctival Transposition Flap Surgery for Primary Pterygium

Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2009;50(12):1774-1779.

Published online: 7 September 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2009.50.12.1774

Effect of Inferior Conjunctival Transposition Flap Surgery for Primary Pterygium

Seong Min Hong, MD, Sang Jun Ko, MD, Sang Duck Kim, MD

Department of Ophthalmology, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea

Address reprint requests to Sang Duck Kim, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Wonkwang University Hospital #344-2 Shinyong-dong, Iksan Chonbuk 570-711, Korea Tel:82-63-859-1383, Fax: 82-63-855-1801, E-mail: sangduck@wonkwang.ac.kr

Received 23 February 2009 Accepted 24 November 2009

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the inferior conjunctival transposition flap for primary pterygium surgery.

Methods

This study reviewed 59 eyes in 59 patients with primary pterygium who were treated with pterygium excision and an inferior conjunctival transposition flap. The inferior conjunctival flap was obtained from lower bulbar conjunctiva and was secured with 8–0 vicryl. Patients were followed-up on the third day after surgery and then at 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively.

Results

The mean patient age was 55.6 (ranging from 34 to 74) years. The mean follow-up period was 24.9 (ranging from 12 to 46) months. During the follow-up period, the pterygium recurred in one (1.7%) of the 59 eyes. There were no severe complications except for mild congestion and hemorrhage of the conjunctival flap.

Conclusions

Inferior conjunctival transposition flap technique may be considered as a safe and effective method that reduces complications and recurrences after primary pterygium excision.

Keywords: Inferior conjunctival transposition flap, Primary pterygium

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Figure 1.

The appearance of an inferior transposition flap.

Figure 2.

The image of flap for harvest.

Figure 3.

The image of after transposition of inferior conjunctival flap.

Figure 4.

(A) Photograph of the inferior transposition flap at three days after surgery. (B) Photograph of the inferior transposition flap at three months after surgery.

Figure 5.

Photograph of the congestion of inferior transposition flap at postoperative 1 week.

Table 1.

Patient characteristics

Number of eyes (patients)	59 (59)
Ages (mean years)	55.6
<40 (years)	1
≥40 (years)	58
Sex (M/F)	34/25
Follow-up duration (mean, month)	24.9
Recurrence, eye (%)	1 (1.7)

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