Ocular nail gun injuries: epidemiology and visual outcomes

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Trauma Surgery
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Nail-gun accidents are a significant cause of penetrating ocular injuries.
• Limited data exists on nail-gun related eye trauma, with only five reported cases previously.
• This study aims to detail the epidemiology and visual outcomes of patients with nail-gun induced ocular injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the characteristics and visual results of patients with eye injuries from nail-guns.
• To analyze the factors contributing to these injuries and their impact on vision.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 24 patients with nail-gun related open globe injuries treated at a tertiary medical center.
• Data collected included demographics, injury circumstances, ocular findings, and visual acuity outcomes.
• Analysis of 178 penetrating eye injuries over a 10-year period identified 24 nail-gun cases.

Main Results:

• Seventy-one percent of injuries were work-related, predominantly affecting young men (average age 29.4).
• No patients reported wearing safety glasses; 50% had presenting visual acuity of hand motion or worse.
• At final follow-up, 38% achieved 20/40 or better vision, indicating better outcomes than anticipated.

Conclusions:

• Most nail-gun eye injuries are preventable occupational hazards.
• Emphasis on safety measures like proper training, trigger types, and mandatory safety glasses is crucial.
• Despite the severity, visual outcomes for these penetrating ocular injuries were more favorable than expected.