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

Valeria D’Antone,Flor De María Cáceres Manrique,Nahyr López Barbosa,Diana Cristina Palencia Flórez,Claudia Juliana Lopez García

doi:10.1186/s12886-021-02014-1

Valeria D’Antone, Flor De María Cáceres Manrique + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-021-02014-1

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Abstract

BackgroundEye 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.MethodA 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.Results61 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.ConclusionThe 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.

Highlights

Eye trauma or eye injury (EI), as indexed by the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), is a serious public health problem involving psychosocial implications and can be prevented in 90% of cases [1,2,3]
During the period of evaluation, 34.43% (21) of the injuries were registered in March, September and October and 11 year old children had the higest frecuency of trauma 11.47% (7) (See Fig. 1)
The highest prevalence found corresponded to mixed EI (75.41% (46 cases)) considered as injuries that affect more than one ocular structure at the same time

Summary

Introduction

Eye trauma or eye injury (EI), as indexed by the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), is a serious public health problem involving psychosocial implications and can be prevented in 90% of cases [1,2,3]. Serious ocular trauma affects a quarter of a million children [5]. For the year 2000, 2.4 million eye injuries were estimated per year; 35% of which occurred in people 17 years old or younger according to Brophy et al [7]. Eye injury is a serious worldwide public health problem that may cause blindness.

Results

Discussion

Conclusion