complications of hydroxyapatite pegging: comparison of polycarbonate versus titanium pegs

purpose: to compare the complications of pegging between the polycarbonate peg system and the titanium peg system. method: complications associated with pegging (polycarbonate: bio-eye or titanium: dr-perry new p-k) were reviewed from the hospital records of 153 patients over 5 years. results: out of 153 cases, 96 (62.3%) were male and 57 (37.7%) were female. mean age was 27.7 yr (6-59 yr). in 88 cases, the peg was polycarbonate with sleeve system and in 65 cases, a titanium peg was used. there was at least one complication in 41 (46.6%) cases with polycarbonate and 18 (27.7%) cases with titanium (p= 0.018). the rates of the most common complications including granulation tissue, discharge, conjunctival over growth, and peg falling out were 35%, 23%, 13%, and 8%, respectively in the polycarbonate peg group and 15%, 5%, 1.5%, and 0 in the titanium peg group. the rate of the last 3 complications in the titanium peg group was statistically lower than the polycarbonate group. twenty-five (28.4%) cases with polycarbonate peg and 5 (7.5%) cases with titanium peg had two or more complications (p= 0.03). peg removal for treatment of complications was required in 11 out of 41 complicated cases (28.8%) of the polycarbonate group but in 2 out of 18 complicated cases (11.1%) of the titanium group (p= 0.03). conclusion: both pegging systems incurred complications which were less severe and less prevalent with the titanium peg system. surgical intervention for treatment of complications in the titanium peg system was required less than the polycarbonate peg. it may be concluded that the titanium peg is a good substitute to the polycarbonate peg system.