Clinical features and outcomes of vitrectomy in pediatric ocular injuries-eye injury vitrectomy study

CONTEXT: Severe pediatric ocular injury remains a frequent and difficult problem. Vitrectomy is a major technique that has been used to manage severely damaged eyes. However, limited follow-up studies exist currently. AIMS: To evaluate the clinical features and predictive factors of visual and anatomic outcomes in Eye Injury Vitrectomy Study (EIVS). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reviewing and analyzing records of children, aged 15 years or younger, who had undergone vitrectomy for eye injuries in EIVS database between January 1997 and December 2009. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive analyses and multiple Logistic regressions were employed for all variables using SPSS software (version 17.0, SPSS Inc.). RESULTS: Eighty-seven children (89 eyes) with more than 6 months follow-up and complete records identified in EIVS were included in this study. Average follow-up was 12.7 months. The mean age was 9.4 ± 3.8 years. Seventy-seven eyes (86.5%) had open globe injuries, and 12 (13.5%) had closed globe injuries. Seventeen eyes (19.3%) presented with endophthalmitis. Seventy-five eyes (88.2%) presented with visual acuity of 4/200 or worse; however, 42 eyes (47.7%) achieved 4/200 or better vision with anatomical restoration after vitrectomy. Multiple analysis showed that choroidal damage, large scleral wound, and endophthalmitis were significantly associated with unfavorable outcome, the OR values were 16.7 (95% CI: 2.7-102.4, P = 0.002), 10.9 (95% CI: 1.7-71.6, P = 0.013), and 6.6 (95% CI: 1.0-42.4, P = 0.048), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy intervention resulted in favorable visual and anatomic outcomes in almost half of the injured eyes. Choroidal damage, large scleral wound, and endophthalmitis were the prognostic indicators of unfavorable outcome.