The pediatric patient at a maxillofacial service: Eye prosthesis
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Published on: October 31, 2019
Beatriz Silva Câmara Mattos1, Maria Cecília Montagna, Clemente da Silva Fernandes
1Department of Maxillofacial Sugery, Protheses and Traumatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo.
Insights
Childhood eye loss necessitates prosthetic rehabilitation for proper orbital development. Etiology varies by age and gender, with trauma more common in older boys.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Maxillofacial Prosthodontics
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
Background:
- Congenital or acquired ocular globe loss in children leads to psychosocial, cosmetic, and developmental issues.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial to minimize sequelae and orbital growth disturbances.
- Ocular prosthesis is vital for the rehabilitation and satisfactory development of the orbital region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the profile of child patients requiring ocular prostheses.
- To analyze the distribution of age, gender, and etiology in pediatric ocular prosthesis patients.
- To identify variations in etiology based on age and gender.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective survey of 124 patients (0-13 years) treated between 1988-2003.
- Patients were divided into two age groups: 0-7 years and 8-13 years.
- Statistical analysis was performed to assess gender and age distribution, and etiological factors.
Main Results:
- Ocular prosthesis needs were evenly distributed across childhood, affecting both genders equally.
- Etiology showed significant variation by age: congenital/pathological issues predominated in younger children, trauma in older children.
- Girls in the older group had significantly less trauma (3x) compared to boys.
Conclusions:
- The etiology of childhood eye loss requiring prosthetic rehabilitation is significantly influenced by age and gender.
- Understanding these variations is essential for targeted prevention and management strategies.
- Ocular prosthetics play a critical role in the holistic rehabilitation of children with eye loss.
Abstract:
Congenital absence or loss of the ocular globe during childhood causes psycho-social and cosmetic disorders and compromise the normal development of the orbital region. The literature relating to congenital or acquired etiology, due to trauma or disease, demonstrates the necessity of prevention and early detection in order to minimize the sequelae and disturbances in orbital growth. Installation of an eye prosthesis is essential to the rehabilitation process, so as to produce satisfactory development of the region. In order to characterize a profile of the child patient with this condition, a survey was carried out at the Prosthetic Eye sector, Out-patient Clinic, Discipline of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOUSP), during the period from 1988 to 2003. The 124 (14.02%) patients within the age group of 0-13 years registered for ocular prosthesis were divided into a first group of 64 patients (51.62%) with 0-7 years, and a second group of 60 patients (48.38%) with 8-13 years. Fifty nine were girls and 65 were boys. No statistical significance was observed regarding the distribution of genders in the two analyzed age groups (p = 0.069). However, there was statistical significance at the level of 0.01 in relation to etiology, with higher prevalence of congenital and pathological disturbances in the younger group and traumatic occurrences in the older group. The etiology also presented variation according to the gender, at the significance level of 0.05, where girls presented three times less trauma than boys in the older age group. The necessity of prosthetic ocular repair was evenly distributed along the childhood period and the eye losses that required prosthetic treatment equally affected both genders. However, the etiology of eye loss varied according to the considered gender and age bracket.
