Efficiency of a Titanium-platelet Rich Fibrin Membrane in Primary Pterygium Surgery

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of titanium-platelet rich fibrin (T-PRF) membranes in primary pterygium surgery.Methods: Twenty-three patients diagnosed with primary pterygium were included in our retrospective study. Patients underwent pterygium excision between January 2017 and October 2017 after T-PRF membrane autograft to close the scleral bed. Blood samples from the patients were centrifuged in titanium tubes and mechanically compressed to prepare T-PRF membranes. In this study, preoperative patient characteristics, spread of pterygium, T-PRF resorption time in postoperative controls, and pterygium recurrence and complications were evaluated.Results: The mean follow-up period was noted as 8.9 +/- 3.1 months (4-14 months). The mean extension of the pterygium was 2.5 +/- 1.0 mm. Eleven patients had pterygium recurrence (42.3%). The mean time to recurrence was 3.9 +/- 1.8 months. No complications were observed during surgery. The T-PRF resorption time was noted as <7 days in seven patients. Postoperative follow-up revealed suture reaction in 7 (26.9%) patients, loss of graft in 1 (3.8%), conjunctival granuloma formation in 1 (3.8%), and Tenon's cyst formation in 1 (3.8%) patient.Conclusion: The T-PRF membrane is easily available, cost-effective, can be prepared with the desired size and thickness, and thus can be an alternative method for patients who are not eligible to receive conjunctival autograft for pterygium surgery. The surgical technique could be improved to be accepted as a standard method.