Prophylactic scleral buckling in perforating ocular injuries involving the posterior segment

Twenty patients suffering from perforating injury involving the posterior segment of the eye without retinal tear or detachment underwent posterior vitrectomy. In 12 of these where traction of the retina was suspected, prophylactic scleral buckling was performed as well. Only two of these patients developed delayed retinal detachment. Six of the eight patients who did not undergo scleral buckling at the time of the vitrectomy developed this complication. This finding was statistically significant (P = .015) and supports the use of prophylactic scleral buckling in the treatment of eyes with perforating injuries involving the posterior segment to prevent delayed retinal detachment.