Epidemiological findings of childhood ocular trauma in a public hospital in Colombia

Abstract

Background Eye injury is a serious worldwide public health problem that may cause blindness. In children, blindness has functional impact and psychosocial implications. As indicated in many worldwide studies, identification of risk factors associated with the socio-cultural context may prevent eye injuries. The objetive of the study is to describe the sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics of pediatric eye injury and its effects on ocular structures in a public hospital from Colombia. Method A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017, in a tertiary public hospital of a medium-sized city located in the Northeast of Colombia. Children under 15 years old with trauma to the eyeball or its adnexa were included. The Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETTS) was used. Eye burns and Ocular adnexa were also included. Results 61 cases of eye injuries were recorded, 67.21% (41 cases) of which were males. 57.37% (35 cases) corresponded to closed-globe injuries both contusion and lamellar laceration. Visual acuity fluctuated between 20/20 and 20/40. 14.75% (9 cases) were open-globe injuries while 50% (4 cases) were penetrating trauma. 27.86% of the injuries (17 cases) did not directly compromise the eyeball, 58.82% (10 of these cases) of which corresponded to eyelid wounds, and neither of those had visual acuity information. Conclusion The study showed that the majority of eye injuries in children under 15 years old, from a public hospital in the Northeast of Colombia, are closed globe, caused by blows, and occur in males.

Risk factors of pediatric ocular trauma related to ophthalmic complications

“…13 The proportion of open globe injuries was 2.1-39% depending on the place of occurrence and treatment facility. 5,13,[17][18][19][20][21] Studies conducted in eye casualty centers, tertiary institutions, and developing nations demonstrated a higher rate of open globe injury 5,[17][18][19][20][21] than a study done in an ED. 13 In the present study, the rate of open globe injury was only 0.4%.…”

“…A prospective study revealed that age greater than10 years, pre‐existing refractive error, impact with a blunt object, and open globe injury were risk factors for poor ophthalmological outcomes 13 . The proportion of open globe injuries was 2.1–39% depending on the place of occurrence and treatment facility 5,13,17–21 . Studies conducted in eye casualty centers, tertiary institutions, and developing nations demonstrated a higher rate of open globe injury 5,17–21 than a study done in an ED 13 .…”

“…The mean age at injury is reportedly 7-11 years. 1,2,[4][5][6][7]10,15,16 Some studies reported a lower age as the peak age at injury (0-4 and 2-6 years old) 1,4,17,18 whereas other studies reported a higher age (5-10 and 10-14 years old). 5,7,10,13,19 Yet other studies reported that closed globe injuries were common in younger children aged 3-5 years whereas open globe injuries occurred predominantly in children aged over 9 years.…”

Wound size and location affect the prognosis of penetrating ocular injury

“…Penetrating ocular injuries is a major type of OGI that can cause severe visual impairment [ 1 , 11 ]. The epidemiological statistics of penetrating ocular trauma have been reported in developed countries such as the USA [ 3 , 12 – 14 ], Europe [ 15 ] and Australia [ 16 ], and some developing countries including India, Iran, and Egypt [ 9 – 12 ]. Although the statistical data on ocular trauma in several southern provinces of China are available, the statistics on ocular trauma in China are still insufficient [ 1 , 4 , 17 ].…”