Management of complicated multirecurrent pterygia using multimicroporous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Pterygia, particularly multirecurrent and complicated cases, present significant challenges in ophthalmology.
• Associated conditions like symblepharon and motility restriction can severely impact visual function and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of multimicroporous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) as an adjunct in surgical management of complicated multirecurrent pterygia.
• To assess the impact of e-PTFE insertion on key postoperative outcomes including recurrence, symblepharon, motility, and patient-reported symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 62 patients with complicated multirecurrent pterygia.
• Standard surgical excision with mitomycin C, amniotic membrane transplantation, and conjunctival limbal autograft was performed.
• Multimicroporous e-PTFE was inserted in 30 eyes (group A) between the graft and conjunctiva, while 32 eyes (group B) served as controls.

Main Results:

• Group A showed significant improvements in symblepharon, motility, diplopia, and conjunctival hyperaemia compared to baseline.
• Postoperative symblepharon, motility restriction, and conjunctival hyperaemia were significantly lower in group A versus group B.
• Corneal pterygium recurrence was significantly reduced in group A (3.3%) compared to group B (25%).

Conclusions:

• Multimicroporous e-PTFE insertion represents a promising novel approach for managing intractable complicated multirecurrent pterygia.
• The technique effectively mitigates postoperative complications and reduces recurrence rates.
• This method offers a potential advancement in surgical strategies for challenging pterygium cases.