Clinical characteristics and surgical outcome of pediatric and early adulthood retinal detachment
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Published on: September 11, 2013
Katharina Eibenberger1, Stefan Sacu1, Sandra Rezar-Dreindl1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna (MUV), Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Pediatric and early adulthood retinal detachment share similar surgical success rates, but early adulthood cases show better functional outcomes. Pars plana vitrectomy is effective for both age groups.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Surgery
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
Background:
- Retinal detachment in pediatric and early adulthood populations presents unique challenges.
- Understanding the differences in pathology and outcomes is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the underlying pathologies, demographics, and characteristics of retinal detachment in pediatric versus early adulthood patients.
- To evaluate the surgical outcomes and functional results for these distinct age groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients aged 0-26 years with rhegmatogenous, serous, or tractional retinal detachment.
- Patients were categorized into preschool (0-6 years), pediatric (7-16 years), and early adulthood (17-26 years) groups.
- Analysis included demographic data, detachment characteristics, surgical interventions, intraocular tamponade, functional outcomes, and anatomic success.
Main Results:
- Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was the only type in early adulthood, while all types were seen in the pediatric group.
- Pars plana vitrectomy was the primary surgery for both groups; silicone oil was common in pediatric cases, while gas tamponade was used in early adulthood.
- Final attachment rates were comparable (89% pediatric, 100% early adulthood), but re-detachment occurred significantly sooner in the pediatric group (1.3 months vs. 4.3 months).
Conclusions:
- Pars plana vitrectomy is a successful surgical approach for both pediatric and early adulthood retinal detachment.
- While re-attachment and re-treatment rates are similar, early adulthood retinal detachment generally yields better functional outcomes compared to younger children.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the underlying pathologies, demographic and retinal detachment characteristics in pediatric and early adulthood retinal detachment.
Methods:
Patients with rhegmatogenous, serous, or tractional retinal detachment aged 0-26 years were retrospectively reviewed. The preschool group (n = 4) comprised children aged 0-6 years, the pediatric group (n = 19) comprised children aged 7-16 years, and the early adulthood group (n = 13) aged 17-26 years. Demographic information and retinal detachment characteristics, type of surgery, and intraocular tamponade were analyzed. Postoperatively, the functional outcome, anatomic success, and ocular adverse events were evaluated. Due to the low patient number in the preschool group, statistical analysis was performed for pediatric group and early adulthood group only.
Results:
All causes of retinal detachment were present in the pediatric group, but only rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in the early adulthood group. In both groups, the main type of surgical intervention was pars plana vitrectomy (pediatric group: 52%, early adulthood group: 38%; p = 0.36). The type of intraocular tamponade varied statistically significantly between the groups (p = 0.014). Silicone oil was the main intraocular tamponade in the pediatric group (48%), whereas no tamponade (54%) followed by gas tamponade (46%) in the early adulthood group. Final attachment rate was similar in both groups (pediatric group: 89%, early adulthood group: 100%; p = 0.35). Re-detachment occurred significantly sooner in the pediatric group (1.3 ± 0.3 months) than in the early adulthood group (4.3 ± 1.4 months; p = 0.03).
Conclusion:
In pediatric and early adulthood retinal detachment, pars plana vitrectomy appeared as a successful surgical intervention. Re-attachment rate and re-treatment were similar in both groups with a better functional outcome observed in cases of retinal detachment in early adulthood and poorer results in young children.
