Efficacy of autolimbal transplantation using two-component autofibrin glue in repeatedly recurrent pterygium

Nowadays there is a large number of methods for surgical treatment of pterygium proposed by Russian and foreign authors. However, a high level of pterygium recurrence is observed even with the use of combined treatment methods. Repeatedly recurring pterygium has a more intensive growth and invasion into the corneal stroma, limiting ophthalmic surgeons in the choice of surgical intervention. In this regard, we have proposed a minimally invasive and pathogenetically substantiated method for treating repeatedly recurring pterygium. It consists in transplanting the limbal zone containing a pool of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) of the same eye — autolimbal transplantation. The autolimbal transplant is fixed with two-component autofibrin glue, which is widely used in the reconstruction of the ocular surface in the clinic of the V.V. Volkov Department of Ophthalmology. During a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of repeatedly recurring pterygium using two-component autofibrin glue and sutures for fixation of the autolimbal transplant, we found the advantages of glue fixation. In the main group, the use of the adhesive composition statistically significantly reduces the time of surgical intervention, as well as the rehabilitation period of patients. In addition, in comparison with the suture method, two-component autofibrin glue reduces the risk of intraoperative tissue damage and allows for the formation of a transplant of the required thickness. This gives an opportunity for the active use of two-component autofibrin glue as a method of tissue fixation, including an autolimbal transplant, in the surgical treatment of repeatedly recurring pterygium. Key words: autolimbal transplantation, pterygium, reccurence, two-component autofibrin glue, limbal stem cell deficiency