21G Needle-Assisted Pterygium Excision (21-GNAP): A Novel Safe Approach

Abstract

Aim: To determine surgical efficacy of 21G needle-assisted pterygium excision. Method: A pictorial review of pterygia excised at different levels of maturity and diverse clinical history using a 21G hypodermic needle and a colibri. Ten pterygia were excised of which grade 3 were six and grade 2 were four. Nine cases were primary pterygia and a case was recurrent. The author was the only surgeon. Result: Cases reviewed showed minimal or no residual pterygial tissues post-operatively. Pterygial beds had smooth corneal optical surfaces, there were no perforations or undue corneal “guttering” from irregular cuts, no exuberant tissue formation like pyogenic granuloma or recurrence at 6 weeks of follow-up. Overall, slit lamp images were comparable with conventional “grab and cut” with surgical blade or scissors. Conclusion: 21G Needle-Assisted Pterygium (21-GNAP) excision is cheap, safe, and easy-to-learn new modality of excising all forms of pterygial and ocular surface masses.