Characteristics of Open Globe Injury in Children under 6

Abstract

Background: To analyze the clinical characteristics of open globe injury (OGI) in children not yet 6.Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 106 OGI children presented to The Eye Center of the Second Hospital of Jilin University, China, from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2020. Results: A total of 106 children, including 61 males (57.5%) and 54 females (42.5%), were included, and the mean age was 4.14±1.58 years, with 53.8% injuries in the right eye. Sharp objects (57.5%) were primarily responsible for OGI, including knives for 22 cases (20.8%), glass and porcelain fragments for 18(17.0%), thorn-like objects for 10(9.4%), wooden materials for 10(9.4%). Up to 91.5% of wounds occurred in zone I. The penetrating injury incidence (68 cases, 64.2%) was highest in OGI cases. Concomitant symptoms of OGI included traumatic cataract (47.2%), iris prolapse (44.3%), endophthalmitis (22.4%), vitreous prolapse (17.0%), retinal detachment (5.7%), eyelid laceration (7.5%), and orbital fractures (1.9%). The mentioned wooden materials and thorns-like objects were associated with endophthalmitis development (p=0.045), and delayed admission ≥24h was an independent risk factor for its onset (p=0.008). Postoperative visual acuity was significantly correlated with its preoperative counterpart (p<0.001).Conclusions: Among OGI children under 6, the number of males is slightly larger than that of females. Sharp objects were the main causes of OGI. Raising awareness of the severity of OGI in children and study of the risk factors for endophthalmitis will help develop effective prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of ocular complications. Amblyopia should be attended to during OGI children’s recovery.