Final Anatomical Outcome Research Articles

Posterior capsule dehiscence during phacoemulsification and manual extracapsular cataract extraction: comparison of outcomes

Purpose To compare the intraoperative behavior and postoperative outcomes of posterior capsule dehiscence during phacoemulsification and during manual extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Setting L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review of consecutive cases of posterior capsule dehiscence over 2 years in patients having phacoemulsification or manual ECCE. A chi-square test was used for statistical comparison of the results in the 2 groups. Results In the 127 eyes with posterior capsule dehiscence, the incidence of vitreous prolapse was comparable between the 2 groups (phacoemulsification, 61.6%; ECCE, 62.7%). In the phacoemulsification group, vitreous prolapse occurred more frequently if nuclear fragments were present at the time of posterior capsule dehiscence than if they were present during cortex removal ( P = .05). Posterior dislocation of nuclear fragments occurred in 4 eyes in the phacoemulsification group. Increased anterior uveitis in the early postoperative period occurred more frequently in the ECCE group ( P = .02). The visual outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusion Even though differences existed between the intraoperative factors influencing the management of posterior capsule dehiscence during phacoemulsification and ECCE, the final anatomic and visual outcomes were comparable.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is an uncommon but serious complication of pars plana vitrectomy that can be associated with a guarded visual prognosis. Risk factors for development of suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy include high myopia, history of previous retinal detachment surgery, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, use of cryotherapy, scleral buckling at the time of pars plana vitrectomy, external drainage of the subretinal fluid, intraoperative systemic hypertension, and bucking during general anesthesia. In eyes with suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy, the final visual and anatomic outcomes may be compromised by persistent retinal detachment, secondary glaucoma, and ocular hypotony. In most cases, intraoperative drainage of suprachoroidal hemorrhage is not associated with a better outcome. The prognosis is more favorable if the suprachoroidal hemorrhage is localized and does not extend in to the posterior pole.

Eye injuries in a terrorist bombing : Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, june 25, 1996

Objective We report the experience of our institution in the evaluation and care of multiple simultaneous ocular trauma patients after a terrorist bomb attack on a United States military base in Saudi Arabia. Design Retrospective, noncomparative small case series. Participants Three patients who received severe ocular injuries after a terrorist bombing. Intervention All patients underwent surgical repair of the injuries that were inflicted as a result of the terrorist bombing. Main outcome measures Baseline ocular characteristics, intraoperative findings, surgical procedures, and final (3 years after injury) anatomic and visual outcomes were noted. Results Glass fragments caused by the blast were the mechanism of all the ocular injuries in these patients. All patients had primary repair of the injuries done in Saudi Arabia and were sent to our institution for tertiary care. Three of the four eyes injured had stable or improved visual acuity and one eye was enucleated. Two patients had no serious injury other than the globe trauma. One patient had extensive eyelid trauma and required serial procedures to allow fitting of a prosthesis. Conclusions Blast-injury patients are at risk for open globe injury as a result of glass fragments. The types of injury that can occur from terrorist blasts can be extensive and involve all the tissues of the eye, the ocular adnexa, and the orbit.

Endovascular Treatment of Incidental Cerebral Aneurysms

One hundred and fifteen patients with 120 intracranial incidental aneurysms were embolized using the GDC endovascular technique at UCLA Medical Center. Angiographic results showed complete or near complete aneurysm occlusion in 109 aneurysms (91%) and an incomplete occlusion in five aneurysms (4%). An unsuccessful GDC embolization was attempted in six aneurysms (5%). One hundred and nine patients (94.8%) remained neurologically intact or unchanged from initial clinical status. Five patients (4.3%) deteriorated due to immediate procedural complications. All these complications occurred in the first 50 patients. No clinical complications were observed in the last 65 patients .. In Groups 1 and 3, the average length of hospitalization was 3.3 days. The technical evolution of the GDC technology has proved to be safe for the treatment of incidental aneurysms (0% morbidity in the last 65 patients). The topography of the aneurysm/s and the clinical condition of the patient did not influence final anatomical or clinical outcomes. GDC technology also brings a positive economical impact by decreasing hospitalization time and eliminating postembolization ICU care.

Embolization of incidental cerebral aneurysms by using the Guglielmi detachable coil system.

Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) technology is a valuable therapeutic alternative to the surgical treatment of ruptured or incidental intracranial aneurysms. The authors describe their technical and clinical experience in the use of the GDC technique in patients who underwent endovascular occlusion for the treatment of incidentally found intracranial aneurysms. One hundred fifteen patients with 120 incidentally found intracranial aneurysms underwent embolization by means of the GDC endovascular technique. Ninety-one patients were females and 24 were males. Patient age ranged from 13 to 80 years. In 64 patients the incidental aneurysms were discovered when unrelated nonneurological conditions signaled the need for angiography or magnetic resonance angiography (Group 1). Twenty patients who presented with incidental aneurysms that were discovered during treatment for an acutely ruptured aneurysm underwent treatment of both types of aneurysm during the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (Group 2). Sixteen patients with incidental aneurysms were treated during the chronic phase of SAH (Group 3). Group 4 included 15 patients who had incidental aneurysms associated with brain tumors or arteriovenous malformations. Angiographic results revealed complete or near-complete occlusion in 109 aneurysms (91%) and incomplete occlusion in five aneurysms (4%). Guglielmi detachable coil embolization was attempted unsuccessfully in six aneurysms (5%). One hundred nine patients (94.8%) remained neurologically intact or unchanged from their initial clinical status. Five patients (4.3%) deteriorated as a result of immediate procedural complications. All these complications occurred in the first 50 patients treated in the series. No clinical complications were observed in the last 65 patients. In one patient, a partially embolized aneurysm ruptured 3 years postprocedure. In Groups 1 and 3, the average length of hospitalization was 3.3 days. The evolution of GDC technology has proved to provide safe treatment of incidental aneurysms (a morbidity rate of 0% was achieved in the last 65 patients). The topography of the aneurysm and the clinical condition of the patient did not influence final anatomical or clinical outcomes. The GDC technology also confers a positive economic impact by decreasing hospital length of stay and by eliminating the need for postembolization intensive care.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy: Risk factors and outcomes

Objective Suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) is an uncommon but serious complication of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) that can be associated with a guarded visual prognosis. The purpose of this study is to document the risk factors and outcomes of this complication. Design Case-control study of consecutive cases of intraoperative SCH occurring during PPV (n = 36) and controls of PPV uncomplicated by SCH (n = 116). Main outcome measures Baseline systemic and ocular characteristics, intraoperative findings, surgical procedures, and final anatomic and visual outcomes were measured. Results Significant risk factors for the development of SCH during PPV included high myopia (22% of cases vs. 5% of controls), history of retinal detachment (RD) surgery (61% vs. 22%), rhegmatogenous RD (97% vs. 60%), use of cryotherapy (75% vs. 33%), scleral buckling at the time of PPV (50% vs. 19%), external drainage of the subretinal fluid (22% vs. 2%), and intraoperative systemic hypertension. In the 34 SCH cases with 3 months’ or more follow-up, the final visual acuity was 20/200 or greater in 11 (32%), count fingers in 5 (15%), hand movement in 7 (21%), light perception in 7 (21%), and no light perception in 4 (12%). In the 106 controls with 3 months’ or more follow-up, the final visual acuity was 20/200 or greater in 79 (75%), count fingers in 20 (19%), hand movement in 5 (5%), light perception in 1 (1%), and no light perception in 1 (1%). In the eyes with SCH, 17 (50%) had persistent RD, 10 (33%) had secondary glaucoma develop, and 8 (24%) became hypotonic. The visual and anatomic outcomes of the SCH cases were significantly worse than those in the control group ( P < 0.001). The visual outcome was more favorable if the SCH did not extend into the posterior pole ( P = 0.002). Attempted intraoperative drainage of SCH was not associated with a better outcome. Conclusion Risk factors for the development of intraoperative SCH during PPV are high myopia, previous RD surgery, rhegmatogenous RD, cryotherapy, scleral buckling, external drainage of subretinal fluid, and intraoperative systemic hypertension. Anatomic and visual outcomes are significantly worsened after this complication.

EYE INJURIES CAUSED BY COW HORNS

Purpose: To assess ocular injuries caused by cow horns; to investigate clinical findings, treatment, and visual outcome in a population of dairy farmers; and to propose possible preventive measures. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to identify patients seen over a 45-month period with cow horn-inflicted eye injuries. Eleven patients were identified and their charts reviewed for demographics, mechanism of injury, initial and final visual acuity, surgeries performed, and anatomic outcome. Results: The mean age of the patients was 64 years. Seven patients had open-globe injuries with vitreous hemorrhage. In five cases, pars plana vitrectomy was performed. Final best-corrected visual acuity was≤ hand motion in five patients, between 20/160 and 20/80 in three patients, and better than 20/32 in three patients. Conclusion: The majority of the cow horn injuries studied caused severe permanent impairment of vision. Owing to the blunt nature of the horns, a significant amount of energy is imparted into the eye. To prevent these injuries, coagulation of the horns should be performed 2 weeks after a calf's birth or farmers should be advised to wear safety glasses.

RETINAL DETACHMENT ASSOCIATED WITH MACULAR HOLE SURGERY

Objective: To study the frequency, features, and outcomes of retinal detachment (RD) occurring after macular hole surgery. Methods: Retrospective review of all cases of macular hole surgery. Cases with post-operative RD were identified for study. Outcome measures included baseline demographic and ocular characteristics, RD features, surgical procedure, macular hole status, and final visual and anatomic outcomes. Results: Retinal detachment occurred in 8 (1.8%) of 438 eyes undergoing macular hole surgery. The rate of RD was 3.5% early in the course of the surgeon's experience (first 200 cases) and 0.4% later in the surgeon's experience (after 200 cases) (P = 0.026). Two of the eight eyes with RD had undergone previous macular hole surgery. All six primary cases occurred after repair of stage 3 macular holes, which had involved peeling of the posterior cortical face. The RD involved the inferior quadrants in seven eyes and the macula in two eyes. The pathogenic retinal break was in the equatorial region in four eyes, was anterior to the equator in two eyes, and remained undetermined in two eyes. The retina was attached and the macular hole was closed in all cases at the final follow-up examination (mean 30 months). The macular hole reopened 2 years following successful reattachment of the RD in one eye. Final visual acuity was ≥20/60 in four eyes and<20/200 in one eye. Conclusion: Retinal detachment after macular hole surgery is uncommon, and may be related to posterior cortical vitreous stripping. Early detection of RD minimizes adverse visual and anatomic outcomes.

Embolization of incidental cerebral aneurysms using the Guglielmi detachable coil system

Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) technology is a valuable therapeutic alternative to the surgical treatment of ruptured or incidental intracranial aneurysms. The authors describe their technical and clinical experience in the utilization of the GDC technique in patients who underwent endovascular occlusion for the treatment of incidentally found intracranial aneurysms. One hundred fifteen patients with 120 incidentally found intracranial aneurysms underwent embolization using the GDC endovascular technique. Ninety-one patients were female and 24 were male. Patient age ranged from 13 to 80 years. In 64 patients the incidental aneurysms were discovered when unrelated nonneurological conditions indicated the need for angiography or magnetic resonance angiography (Group 1). Twenty patients who presented with incidental aneurysms that were discovered during treatment for an acutely ruptured aneurysm were treated in the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (Group 2). Sixteen patients with incidental aneurysms were treated during the chronic phase of SAH (Group 3). Group 4 included 15 patients who had incidental aneurysms associated with brain tumors or arteriovenous malformations. Angiographic results showed complete or near complete occlusion in 109 aneurysms (91%) and incomplete occlusion in five aneurysms (4%). Unsuccessful GDC embolization was attempted in six aneurysms (5%). One hundred nine patients (94.8%) remained neurologically intact or unchanged from initial clinical status. Five patients (4.3%) deteriorated due to immediate procedural complications (overall immediate morbidity rate). All of these complications occurred in the first 50 patients treated earlier in this series. No clinical complications were observed in the last 65 patients. Follow-up cerebral angiograms were obtained in 77 patients with 79 aneurysms. The median clinical follow-up period was 16.3 months. No recanalization was observed in the 52 completely occluded aneurysms. Of the 22 aneurysms with small neck remnants, eight (36%) showed further thrombosis, 7 (32%) remained anatomically unchanged, and seven (32%) showed recanalization due to compaction of the coils. In one patient, a partially embolized aneurysm ruptured 3 years postembolization. In Groups 1 and 3, the average length of hospitalization was 3.3 days. The evolution of the GDC technology has proved to provide safe treatment of incidental aneurysms (a morbidity rate of 0% was achieved in the last 65 patients). The topography of the aneurysm and the clinical condition of the patient did not influence final anatomical or clinical outcomes. The GDC technology also confers a positive economical impact by decreasing hospital length of stay and by eliminating the need for postembolization intensive care unit care.

Management of intra-ocular foreign bodies impacting or embedded in the retina.

To identify both the clinical features of eyes suffering penetrating ocular injury with intra-ocular foreign bodies (FB) impacting or embedded in the retina and the results of surgical outcome and complication rates. Thirty-eight consecutive cases of penetrating ocular injuries with intra-ocular FB impacting or embedded in the retina were retrospectively analysed. The FB were metallic in 30 eyes (78.9%; 19 ferromagnetic) and were non-metallic in eight eyes (21.1%). Magnetic extraction was performed in 17 cases (44.7%) and instrumental extraction was performed in 21 cases (55.3%). In two cases, pars plana vitrectomy and FB removal was combined with penetrating keratoplasty, temporary keratoprosthesis and anterior segment reconstruction because of severe explosive injury to the eye. At the final postoperative examination, 32 eyes (84.2%) had completely attached retinas. Visual acuity (VA) improved postoperatively in 18 eyes (47.4%). A final VA of 0.5 or better was achieved in nine of 23 eyes (39.1%) with FB in the peripheral retina and in one of 15 eyes (6.7%) with posterior pole and/or optic nerve head involvement. There was no difference in the final VA regarding the time elapsed between trauma and the removal of the FB. The late anatomical and functional outcome in eyes with penetrating ocular injury and FB impacting or embedded in the retina is mostly uncertain, despite immediate and complex surgery. Final anatomical and functional outcome in the present study was influenced by location and extent of the initial damage to the posterior pole. The time that had elapsed between trauma and removal of the FB did not influence final visual function.

Does the presence of heparin and dexamethasone in the vitrectomy infusate reduce reproliferation in proliferative vitreoretinopathy?

Reproliferation following vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) causes redetachment in up to 55% of cases. Heparin and corticosteroids have each been shown to inhibit the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in experimental models. However, little information is available on the use of these agents in humans. In this pilot study, 62 eyes of 62 patients with severe PVR requiring vitrectomy were prospectively randomized to receive either BSS Plus (control) or BSS Plus with heparin and dexamethasone (HD) in the infusate. After one operation, the retina was reattached in 42 (71%) of 59 eyes: 22 (65%) of 34 eyes in the control group and 20 (80%) of 25 eyes in the HD group (P = 0.16). Reproliferation developed in 26.5% of the control group (9 of 34 eyes) and 16% of the HD group (4 of 25 eyes; P = 0.26). Postoperative hemorrhage was significantly more frequent in the HD group (P = 0.02) but did not influence final visual or anatomic outcome. Hypotony was less frequent in the HD group but the difference was not significant (P = 0.063). The trend from this randomized pilot study suggests that HD supplementation of the vitrectomy infusate may reduce the reproliferation rate in PVR and possibly reduce the rate of hypotony. Postoperative hemorrhage was more frequent with HD but did not cause redetachment or alter visual outcome. A multicenter trial involving more patients would be required to better evaluate the efficacy of HD as a pharmacologic adjunct to PVR surgery.

Unstable Colles' fractures in elderly patients. A randomised trial of external fixation for redisplacement

We report the results of a prospective randomised controlled trial of the management of 101 Colles' fractures in patients over the age of 55 years. Within two weeks of initial reduction 43 fractures had displaced with either more than 10 degrees dorsal angulation or more than 5 mm radial shortening. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: 21 were remanipulated and held by an external fixator; in the control group of 22 patients, the redisplacement was accepted and conservative treatment was continued. Patients treated with external fixation had a good anatomical result, but their function was no better than that of the control group. We found no correlation between final anatomical and functional outcome, and concluded that the severity of the original soft-tissue injury and its complications are the major determinants of functional end result.