Pattern and outcome of conjunctival surgeries in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To assess the output, pattern, and outcome of conjunctival surgeries in Jos University Teaching Hospital over a 7‑year period.

Methodology: The minor ophthalmic surgical records of the hospital were retrospectively reviewed to obtain information on patients who had conjunctival surgery. These included patients’ demographics, diagnosis, indications and types of surgery, type of anesthesia, histology report, and outcome. The data were analyzed using Epi Info statistical software version 3.4, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Results: A total of 155 patients and 187 eyes were operated upon; 73 (47.1%) males and a mean age of 39.9 years (standard deviation: 15). Pterygium excision accounting for 104 (55.6%), excisional biopsy 58 (31.0%), and conjunctival flap in 14 eyes (7.5%) were the most common procedures. There was an increase in the proportion of patients who had pterygium surgery with increasing age (X² = 19.6, P < 0.001). Pterygium excision also remained the most common conjunctival surgery over the 7‑year period with an annual average of 55.1% (X² = 8.4, P < 0.001). Most pterygium excision 91 (87.5%) were performed using the bare sclera technique with a 31.6% recurrence rate. The most common conjunctival neoplasia was squamous cell carcinoma 7 (58.3%) and squamous cell papilloma 3 (25%).

Conclusion: Over half of conjunctival surgeries were pterygium excisions mostly performed using the bare sclera method with a significant recurrent rate; hence, the need for modifications which includes the use of antimetabolites and conjunctival autograft.

Keywords: Conjunctiva, outcome, surgery