Traumatic retinal detachment--the difficulty and importance of correct diagnosis

Traumatic retinal detachment: A contemporary update

Retinal detachment following ocular trauma (TrRD) is one of the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. In the absence of a standardized definition, the diagnosis of traumatic retinal detachment relies on identifying a history of trauma that precedes the detachment. There is an increasing pool of data regarding the etiology and epidemiology of TrRD.Various causes of TrRD mentioned in the literature include work-related eye trauma in construction and manufacturing industries, sports injuries, explosive eye injuries, road traffic accidents, and intraocular foreign bodies. Although there is extensive literature on post-trauma retinal detachments, a comprehensive discussion of its pathogenesis, management, outcomes, and complications is lacking. This article offers an in-depth review of the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of TrRD based on the current literature. A literature review was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords 'ocular trauma,' 'traumatic retinal detachments,' 'open globe injury,' 'closed globe injury,' and 'post-traumatic retinal detachment.'

More than meets the eye: Lid and conjunctival injuries in cases of non-sexual assault are frequently accompanied by non-fatal strangulation

OBJECTIVE

To determine the associations between lid and conjunctival injuries (LACI), non-fatal strangulation (NFS) and domestic family violence (DFV) in non-sexual assault.

METHODS

The present study involves an analysis of LACI in a clinical audit of 85 sequential non-sexual assault presentations.

RESULTS

LACI was present in 26.9% of non-sexual assault cases, and 47.4% of LACI patients also experienced NFS. LACI was sustained in the context of DFV in 62.9% of cases. Females made up 69.2% of LACI patients, with those between 14 and 29 years most at risk. Children were present in 12.8% of cases, 78.2% of perpetrators were male and 44.9% of patients had previously been assaulted by the same perpetrator.

CONCLUSIONS

LACI is frequently associated with NFS and/or DFV. Since NFS increases future homicide attempts and events more than sixfold, LACI is an important signal about a patient's homicide risk, expanding the dimensions of the care needed. Those experiencing LACI during an assault also need to be referred for comprehensive eye examination as soon as possible. With consent, systematic forensic photography of LACI enables its assessment and documentation, which assists the legal process. These conclusions should drive legislative consideration and reform, plus expanded education for clinicians and police.

Experimental evidence to understand mechanical causes of retinal detachment following blunt trauma

PURPOSE

This study aimed to perform an in vitro experiment to simulate retinal detachment caused by blunt impact, and provide experimental evidence to understand mechanical causes of traumatic retinal detachment.

METHODS

The experiment was conducted on twenty-two fresh porcine eyes using a bespoke pendulum testing device at two energy levels (0.1J for low energy and 1.0J for high energy). We examined dynamic forces and mechanical responses to the impact, including global deformations, intraocular pressure changes and the energy absorption. Another set of twenty-two eyes underwent pathological examination immediately after being subjected to blunt impact. Twelve additional intact eyes were examined as controls. All pathological sections were scored to indicate whether retinal detachment had occurred.

RESULTS

A dynamic variation in intraocular pressure was detected following impact and exhibited an approximate sinusoidal oscillation-attenuation profile. The peaks of impact force were 12.9 ± 1.9 N at low-energy level and 34.8 ± 9.8 N at high-energy level, showing a significant difference (p < 0.001). The positive and negative peaks of intraocular pressure were 149.4 ± 18.9 kPa and -10.9 ± 7.2 kPa at low-energy level, and 274.5 ± 55.2 kPa and -35.7 ± 23.7 kPa at high-energy level, showing significant differences (p < 0.001 for both levels). Retinal detachments were observed in damaged eyes while few detachments were found in control eyes. The occurrence rate of retinal detachment differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the high- and low-energy impact groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided experimental evidence that shockwaves produced by blunt trauma break the force equilibrium and lead to the oscillation and negative pressure, which mainly contribute to traumatic retinal detachment.

Impact of the first lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic emergencies in a French University Hospital

Introduction

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the French government implemented its first national lockdown between March and May 2020 in order to limit the dissemination of the virus. This historic measure affected patients’ daily lives and transportation, resulting in changes in the delivery of medical care, particularly emergency care. This study aimed to assess the impact of this restriction policy on the number and severity of ophthalmic emergencies seen in an ophthalmology emergency department.

Methods

This retrospective study conducted at the regional university Hospital of Tours included all patients presenting to the ophthalmology emergency department over four periods: lockdown (03/16/2020 to 05/10/2020), post-lockdown (05/11/2020 to 06/12/2020) and the two corresponding periods in 2019. The following data were recorded: sex, age, time of visit, reason for visit, diagnosis, severity of emergency graded on the BaSe SCOrE, time from first symptoms until visit, existence of a work-related injury, and referral source (ophthalmologist or other).

Results

A total of 1186 and 1905 patients were respectively included during the 2020 lockdown period and the corresponding period in 2019. The study populations for the 2019 and 2020 post-lockdown periods consisted of 1242 and 1086 patients respectively. During the lockdown, the number of consultations decreased significantly (−37.7%), affecting mild and severe emergencies similarly. During the post-lockdown period, the number of emergencies gradually increased but did not reach the level of the corresponding period in 2019 (−12.6%).

Conclusion

The first French lockdown resulted in a significant decrease in ophthalmic emergency visits, similar for all levels of severity. All age groups were impacted similarly, without the expected exaggerated decrease for patients over 50 years of age, who are considered to be at greater risk for developing a severe form of COVID-19. The post-lockdown period showed a gradual increase in ophthalmic emergency visits, although these remained fewer than the previous year.

Surgical outcomes and prognostic factors in traumatic retinal detachment following closed-globe injuries

PURPOSE

To evaluate the anatomical and functional results of retinal detachment (RD) surgery following closed-globe injuries (CGI).

METHODS

Patients treated with vitreoretinal surgeries due to RD following CGI from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Data included demographics, mechanism of injury, preoperative evaluation, and surgical intervention. Outcome measurements included anatomic success, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and possible prognostic factors.

RESULTS

A total of 67 eyes from 64 patients (49 males; mean age 52.84 years) were included. The most common causes of the CGI were work-related injury (22.4%) and traffic accidents (23.9%). The primary and final anatomic success rates were 80.6% (54/67) and 89.6% (60/67), respectively. In the multivariable analysis of the logistic regression models, the poor prognostic factor was proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (P = 0.009) for primary anatomic success. The median preoperative and final BCVA were logMAR 0.7 (IQR, 0.3-1.6) and logMAR 0.5 (IQR, 0.1-1.1), respectively (P = 0.077). Poorly presenting BCVA (counting fingers or worse) and giant tear were associated with poor visual outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Work-related injuries and traffic accidents are the prevalent causes of RD following CGI. The anatomic outcomes were favorable, but visual outcomes varied. Poor prognostic factors included PVR and poorly presenting BCVA, highlighting the importance of a careful initial evaluation.

Functional connectivity density alterations in middle-age retinal detachment patients

OBJECTIVE

Middle-age patients with retinal detachment (RD) exhibit a loss of visual information, and previous studies of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have demonstrated abnormal spontaneous activity in the RD brain. Therefore, this study assessed changes in local functional connectivity density (lFCD) and long-range functional connectivity density (longFCD) in middle-age RD patients during resting-state FC.

METHODS

In total, 32 middle-age patients with RD (18 men and 14 women), and 32 age-, sex-, and education-matched normal controls (NCs) (18 men and 14 women) were recruited and underwent functional magnetic resonance examination in the resting state. Two-sample t test was performed to compare lFCD and longFCD between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to distinguish middle-age RD patients from NCs.

RESULTS

Compared with NCs, middle-age RD patients demonstrated increased lFCD values in the right inferior temporal gyrus, and increased longFCD values in the bilateral inferior frontal gyri, left superior and middle frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior temporal gyri, and left cerebellum posterior lobe. Middle-age RD patient exhibited decreased lFCD values in the left cuneus, right lingual gyrus, and left middle frontal gyrus. They also had lower longFCD values in the left lingual gyrus and left inferior occipital gyrus. ROC curve analysis showed excellent accuracy of the specific areas under the curve.

CONCLUSION

Our results reveal that middle-age RD patients exhibited variations of binarized lFCD and longFCD in specific brain areas, which provides insight into the pathological mechanism of RD patients with acute visual loss.

Contextual Assessment of Retinal Injuries – Tasks of the Ophthalmological Expert

The ophthalmologic assessment of causal relationships is subject to formal guidelines, depending on the legal field (social law in the statutory accident insurance, civil law in the private accident insurance). After determining all objective and subjective findings of the individual case with complete recording of the medical facts, the ophthalmologist has the task of making a summarizing assessment of the existing cause-and-effect relationship. With regard to the distinction between retinal damage caused by an accident or retinal disease not caused by an accident, it is necessary to weigh up the natural causality according to the state of medical experience on the basis of the criteria strength of association, consistency, specificity, temporal sequence, dose dependence, agreement with previous findings, experimental reliability and analogous consideration. All records of medical findings from the patientʼs medical history and the individual description of the accident must be included in the expert opinion. In the case of several competing causes (often accident and pre-existing damage), the social law in the statutory accident insurance must present the causal contributions with roughly estimated probabilities. In civil law, valid for the private accident insurance, the existence of partial causality (approx. 25, 50, 75%) must be evaluated.

Sensitivity, Specificity, and Accuracy of Color Doppler Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment

Purpose

This study evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of Color Doppler Ultrasonography (CDUS) in patients with suspected retinal detachment (RD) who underwent surgery.

Methods

In this prospective, observational clinical study, 65 eyes of 65 consecutive patients with suspected RD with opaque media were included. Following a standardized protocol, CDUS of the retina of the affected eye was performed. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of CDUS were determined and compared to the findings during surgery.

Results

The mean age of patients (18 men and 47 women) was 52.36 years (range: 8–77 years). The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of ocular CDUS were 91.3%, 88.1%, and 89.2%, respectively. The false-negative rate (negative CDUS images but presence of RD at operation) was 3.1% (2/65) and the false-positive rate (positive CDUS images but absence of RD at operation) was 7.7% (5/65).

Conclusion

CDUS of the retina could be considered as a promising tool in the diagnosis of RD in patients with opaque media.

Post traumatic retinal injuries: Does the ocular protective reflex play a crucial role?

Traumatic retinal injuries are commonly encountered in most retinal subspecialty clinics. Retinal dialysis, detachment and other complications consequent to blunt trauma are often thought to be due to equatorial expansion of the globe following an antero-posterior compressive force. However, stretching of the globe along the primary anatomical equator may not hold true for the adjusted globe position as a consequence of the protective Bell's phenomenon which gets activated before impact. The upward and outward rolling of the globe likely creates a new equator, with the compressive forces acting along this new plane, thereby leading to stretching along the ocular coats closer to the retinal periphery. Additionally, the coup and countercoup mechanisms with increased vulnerability of temporal sclera predisposes to retinal complications more commonly along the temporal and the nasal retina. Further, retinal complications involving other quadrants can also be explained through understanding of the Bell's phenomenon.

Mechanical Evaluation of Retinal Damage Associated With Blunt Craniomaxillofacial Trauma: A Simulation Analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate retinal damage as the result of craniomaxillofacial trauma and explain its pathogenic mechanism using finite element (FE) simulation.

METHODS

Computed tomography (CT) images of an adult man were obtained to construct a FE skull model. A FE skin model was built to cover the outer surface of the skull model. A previously validated FE right eye model was symmetrically copied to create a FE left eye model, and both eye models were assembled to the skull model. An orbital fat model was developed to fill the space between the eye models and the skull model. Simulations of a ball-shaped object striking the frontal bone, temporal bone, brow, and cheekbones were performed, and the resulting absorption of the impact energy, intraocular pressure (IOP), and strains on the macula and ora serrata were analyzed to evaluate retinal injuries.

RESULTS

Strain was concentrated in the macular regions (0.18 in average) of both eyes when the frontal bone was struck. The peak strain on the macula of the struck-side eye was higher than that of the other eye (>100%) when the temporal bone was struck, whereas there was little difference (<10%) between the two eyes when the brow and cheekbones were struck. Correlation analysis showed that the retinal strain time histories were highly correlated with the IOP time histories (r > 0.8 and P = 0.000 in all simulation cases).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of retinal damage is variable in craniomaxillofacial trauma depending on the struck region, and the damage is highly related to IOP variation caused by indirect blunt eye trauma.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

This finite element eye model allows us to evaluate and understand the indirect ocular injury mechanisms in craniomaxillofacial trauma for better clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Surgical Management of Traumatic Retinal Detachment with Primary Vitrectomy in Adult Patients

Purpose. To evaluate functional and anatomical results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the retinal detachment (RD) followed by severe eye trauma. Methods. Retrospective analysis of medical records of forty-one consecutive patients treated with 23-gauge PPV due to traumatic RD. Age, gender, timing of PPV, visual acuity, and presence of intraocular foreign body (IOFB) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) were included in the analysis. Results. Mean age of patients was 47 years; the majority of patients were men (88%). Closed globe injury was present in 21 eyes and open globe injury in 20 eyes (IOFB in 13 eyes, penetration injury in 4 eyes, and eye rupture in 3 eyes). Mean follow-up period was 14 months; mean timing of PPV was 67 days. Twenty-seven (66%) eyes had a functional success; 32 eyes (78%) had anatomical success. As a tamponade silicone oil was used in 33 cases and SF6 gas in 8 cases. Conclusions. Severe eye injuries are potentially devastating for vision, but vitreoretinal surgery can improve anatomical and functional outcomes. Among analysed pre- and intra- and postoperative factors, absence of PVR, postoperative retinal attachment, and silicone oil as a tamponade were related to significantly improved visual acuity.