Outcomes and risk factors for failure of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in children with traumatic glaucoma - A retrospective study

PURPOSE: To determine surgical outcomes and risk factors for failure of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (TMMC) in pediatric traumatic glaucoma. METHODS: Children who underwent TMMC post trauma from January 2014 to December 2019 were reviewed. Demographic features, ocular findings, and surgery details were noted. Surgical success was defined as achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) within 6–21 mm Hg. RESULTS: Seventy-one eyes of seventy patients underwent TMMC. The mean age of the patients was 11.28 ± 3.63 years with a male/female ratio of 13:1. The median time from trauma to IOP rise was 13 days. The majority of the patients (n = 64, 90.1%) had close globe injury. Baseline IOP was 39.3 ± 10.5 mm Hg. Results of the surgery were noted at the last visit. Cumulative success was noted in 51 (71.8%) eyes, while 20 (28.2%) eyes were labeled failures. Mean IOP reduced from 39.3 ± 10.5 to 14.5 ± 8.1 mm Hg. Mean visual acuity improved from 2.3 ± 0.93 to 1.19 ± 1.08 logMAR. Post surgery, the mean follow-up of the patients was 20.3 ± 11.4 months. Age <6 years (RR 3.6), elevated IOP at 1 month after TMMC (RR 2.19), and hypotony within a week of surgery (RR 1.81) were found as independent risk factors of surgical failure. CONCLUSION: TMMC is effective in reducing IOP in traumatic glaucoma. Young age and inability to control IOP within normal ranges in the immediate period after surgery are important risk factors of failure.