Demographics and epidemiology of open globe injuries in children in the age group of 2-16 years

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the study was to review demographic, etiologic, and clinical characteristics of globe injuries in children in the age group of 2-16 years. Materials and methods The medical records of 376 patients below the age of 16 years who presented to the Casualty Department in Kasr El-Ainy Hospital, Cairo University with open globe injuries during the period between June 2011 and June 2012 were examined retrospectively. Patients were analyzed with respect to age, sex, place of injury, cause of injury, and clinical signs at the time of presentation. Results A total number of 1345 patients with open globe injuries was recorded in 1 year from June 2011 to June 2012; of them, 376 children were in the age group of 2-16 years, this means that children below the age of 16 represented around 28% of the total number of casualty patients. Our study showed that most of the open globe injuries below the age of 16 years occurred in boys (276 boys vs. 100 girls). The mean age was 8.8 ± 4.3 years. The children were classified into three groups: (a) preschoolers including children from 2 years to those below 7 years; (b) school-age children including children from 7 years to those below 11 years; and (c) adolescents including children from 11 years to 16 years. Most patients (44.9%) were in the 2-6-year age group followed by the adolescent age group (11-16 years) (32.4%), then the school-age children (7-10 years) (22.6%). Pointed and sharp objects were found to be the main causative agents. Injuries occurred most frequently in streets (61.9%) followed by homes (31.9%), and then schools (6%). Conclusion Open globe injuries in children occur most frequently in preschool boys. The injuries occurred mainly in the streets followed by homes and the least common place for injury was recorded to be the schools.