J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2019 Jan;60(1):80-84. 10.3341/jkos.2019.60.1.80.

A New Amniotic Membrane for Placement during Pterygium Surgery

• Lee JY
• Hwang HB

• KMID: 2431844
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2019.60.1.80

Abstract

PURPOSE
We introduce a new amniotic membrane (AM) for placement during pterygium surgery.
CASE SUMMARY
After excision of the pterygium, we measured the size of the defect with reference to the side opposite the defective area and prepared an AM with margins 1.5-2.0 mm greater than the defect size. The AM was first sutured vertically, with reference to the opposite side of the defect. Then we sutured the upper and lower horizontal axes, and positioned the eye, from the front, slightly away from the direction of the opposite side of the defect. The AM was cut by reference to its boundary at the limbus, and three fixation sutures were placed.
CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate AM sizing is important in terms of AM transplantation; the AM is non-elastic and easily torn. Our technique transplants a correctly sized AM and anchors it firmly.

Keyword

Amniotic membrane; Pterygium

MeSH Terms

Amnion*
Pterygium*
Sutures

Figure

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  Figure 1 Surgical procedures in amniotic membrane (AM) design technique. (A, B) We measured the horizontal and vertical lengths with a caliper. (C) AM was cut to an appropriate size. (D) The AM was positioned on the defect side. (E) Keeping an eye on the opposite side of the defect, the AM was sutured the vertical axis first with 10-0 nylon (arrows). (F) When suturing the upper and lower horizontal axes (arrows), the eye was slightly against the direction of the defect site. (G) The AM was cut according to the boundary at the limbus. (H) Three fixation sutures were added to the transplanted AM (arrowheads). (I) Treatment soft contact lens was applied.

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  Figure 2 The preoperative and postoperative states of patient. (A) Preoperative. (B) One week after surgery. There was no wound dehiscence and redundant amniotic membrane tissue.

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  Figure 3 Schematic diagram of amniotic membrane (AM) design technique. (A) The AM is sutured the vertical axis first. (B) Then the upper and lower horizontal axes is sutured. (C) The AM is cut according to the boundary at the limbus.

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