[Quantifying and classifying postsurgical pain in pterygium surgery with conjunctival autografts].

OBJECTIVE

Quantify and define post-surgical pain after pterygium surgery with conjunctival autografts.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study included 17 patients. The parameters analysed were, gender, age, pterygium TCL classification, primary characteristics or relapse, usage of isolated tissue adhesive or extra fixation with stitches. A visual analogue pain scale was used immediately after surgery, on the days 2 and 3 post-surgery, and the characteristics of the pain and the frequency of it in days 2 and 3 following the surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 17 eyes of 17 patients were operated. The majority of patients (52.9%) showed moderate pain on the visual analogue scale immediately after surgery. On day 2 after surgery the pain level was mild in the majority of patients with characteristics of sharp pain and lash pain predominantly. On day 3 after surgery, mild pain was also predominant, with characteristics of stinging and lash pain in majority of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Using scales and pain characteristics we can quantify and define post-surgical pain after pterygium surgery with conjunctival auto-grafts resection immediately after surgery and in the following days.