The pediatric traumatic hyphema

Timing of Ocular Hypertension After Pediatric Closed-Globe Traumatic Hyphema: Implications for Surveillance

PURPOSE

To evaluate the timing of ocular hypertension (OHT) after pediatric closed-globe injury (CGI) and traumatic hyphema. We hypothesize that OHT will occur at different times based on injury characteristics.

DESIGN

Retrospective, cohort study.

METHODS

Setting: Single-center, tertiary-care, pediatric hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Subjects included patients ≤18 years of age at the time of injury who suffered CGI and traumatic hyphema between 2002 and 2019. Observation Procedure(s): Intraocular pressure and injury demographics were abstracted for every visit after injury. OHT was defined as >21 mm Hg at presentation or after a reading of ≤21 mm Hg at a prior visit.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was the timing of OHT categorized into 4 periods: presentation, acute (days 1-7), subacute (days 8-28), or late (day >28). Secondary outcome measures were identification of risks factors for OHT by multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

OHT occurred in 119 of the 305 (39%) subject eyes. OHT occurred in 35 patients at presentation, 69 times acutely, 35 times subacutely, and 36 times late. Pupil damage predicted acute-period OHT (P = .004). OHT at presentation predicted subacute period OHT (P = .004). Iridodialysis and cataract predicted late-period OHT (P = .007 and P < .001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

OHT after CGI and traumatic hyphema in pediatric patients is common. Injury demographics predict this complication. Integration of these risk factors with current literature allows proposal of a risk-stratification tool to guide efficient surveillance for OHT.

An Uncommon Meridional Globe Rupture due to Blunt Eye Trauma

Open globe injury (OGI) is a severe form of eye trauma. It is an important cause of monocular blindness worldwide. Ruptures from blunt trauma are most common at the sites where the sclera is thinnest, at the insertions of the extraocular muscles, and at the limbus. Most often, rupture is equatorial. We present a unique case of open globe injury due to blunt ocular trauma from a thrown rock that resulted in a meridional rupture of the eye. The pertinent literature is reviewed.

Pediatric open globe injury: A review of the literature

Open globe injury (OGI) is a severe form of eye trauma estimated at 2-3.8/100,000 in the United States. Most pediatric cases occur at home and are the result of sharp object penetration. The aim of this article is to review the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of this condition by conducting a systematic literature search with inclusion of all case series on pediatric OGI published between 1996 and 2015. Diagnosis of OGI is based on patient history and clinical examination supplemented with imaging, especially computed tomography when indicated. Few prospective studies exist for the management of OGI in pediatric patients, but adult recommendations are often followed with success. The main goals of surgical management are to repair the open globe and remove intraocular foreign bodies. Systemic antibiotics are recommended as medical prophylaxis against globe infection, or endophthalmitis. Other complications are similar to those seen in adults, with the added focus of amblyopia therapy in children. Severe vision decline is most likely due to traumatic cataracts. The ocular trauma score, a system devised to predict final visual acuity (VA) in adults, has proven to be of prognostic value in pediatric OGI as well. Factors indicating poor visual prognosis are young age, poor initial VA, posterior eye involvement, long wound length, globe rupture, lens involvement, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and endophthalmitis. A thorough understanding of OGI and the key differences in epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prognosis between adults and children is critical to timely prevention of posttraumatic vision loss early in life.

Is topical corticosteroid necessary in traumatic hyphema?

PURPOSE

To compare the outcomes in the management of traumatic hyphema treated with topical corticosteroid plus supportive therapy versus only supportive therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 206 patients were divided into two groups; group I, 98 eyes were treated with topical corticosteroid 12 × 1 and supportive therapy including bed rest, keeping the head elevated (45 degrees), and hydration. In group II, 108 eyes were treated with only supportive therapy. Hyphema size, initial and final visual acuities and intraocular pressure, time to hyphema clearance, and incidence of rebleeding were evaluated.

RESULTS

The time needed for hyphema resorption in the two groups were 60.25 ± 33.9 and 62.3 ± 28.9 hours respectively (P=0.62). There was no significant difference in rebleeding rate between the topical corticosteroid group (4.01%) and non-steroid group (6.48%) (P=0.67). The initial and final visual acuities were similar in the two groups (P=0.86). In Groups I and II, the average intraocular pressures were 19.7 ± 8.01 and 14.2 ± 10.2 mmHg respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Patients who were treated with topical corticosteroids were no less likely to experience a rebleed or a poor visual outcome than those treated with supportive therapy alone. Supportive therapy alone may be convenient and cost-effective management strategy in uncomplicated traumatic hyphema.