Outcomes of a Modified Trabeculectomy Closure Technique.

PRECIS

A modified closure for trabeculectomy in which the conjunctiva is incised posterior to the limbus and reapproximated using 2 nylon sutures, provided similar surgical outcomes to the standard trabeculectomy closure technique.

PURPOSE

To examine the surgical outcomes of a modified trabeculectomy closure technique in which the conjunctiva is incised posterior to the limbus and reapproximated using 2 sutures, burying the posterior conjunctiva under an anterior lip of conjunctiva.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective review included 73 eyes that underwent trabeculectomies between 2015 and 2017 at Johns Hopkins Hospital by a single surgeon. We analyzed traditional closures used from January 2015 to May 2016, and modified closures used from July 2016 to March 2017. The main outcome measures were a reduction in intraocular pressure at 3, 6, and 12 months, reduction in the number of medications at 12 months, and total number of postoperative complications.

RESULTS

There was no difference in reduction of intraocular pressure at 3 months (9.9±8.2 vs. 10.5±8.7 mm Hg), 6 months (10.8±9.6 vs. 10.6±8.3 mm Hg), or 12 months (12.2±8.9 vs. 10.0±9.3 mm Hg) in the standard (n=44) and modified groups (n=29), respectively. There was a similar reduction in the use of glaucoma medications in the standard group (1.2±1.5 vs. 1.0±1.1) compared with the modified group and no difference in the number of postoperative complications (25.0% vs. 17.2%, respectively) (P>0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

The modified closure provided similar results to the standard closure for trabeculectomy. Further studies are needed to determine whether the 2 techniques differ in surgical outcomes over a longer follow-up or other surgical parameters (eg, ease, surgical time, learning curve).