Pediatric open globe injury in left-behind children treated by pars plana vitrectomy in China

To analyze the clinical features of pediatric open globe injury (OGI) in left-behind children (LBC) and in non-left-behind children (non-LBC) prospectively.

Patients diagnosed with OGI were included and divided into 2 groups: LBC and non-LBC. A complete ophthalmological examination was performed. Primary wound repair was completed within 8 hours from initial administration. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was subsequently performed for retained intraocular foreign body (IOFB), endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, or non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage.

A total of 96 patients (4 to 15 years old) were recruited, including 54 LBC and 42 non-LBC. Rupture of the eyeball (P<0.001), endophthalmitis (P<0.001), primary hospitalization time (PHT) over 24 hours (PHT >24 h) (P=0.016), traumatic cataract (P=0.013), vitreous hemorrhage (P=0.040), numbers of surgeries (P<0.001), and lower OTS scores and grades (P<0.001) predisposed patients to poorer final visual acuity (VA). Compared with non-LBC, LBC were significantly younger (P<0.001), had lower OTS scores (P=0.020), had longer PHT (P<0.001), and worse baseline (P=0.011) and final VA (P<0.001). The 3 most common injury sources were pencils (20 cases, 20.8%), knives (11 cases, 11.5%), and iron wire (7 cases, 7.3%). Pencils were the major injury source for IOFB (14 cases, 53.8%). LBC were significantly more likely to be injured by instruments which should be routinely kept away from children (P=0.009).

The prognosis of pediatric OGI was worse in LBC than in non-LBC. It is necessary to improve the guardianship of LBC. Many tragedies may be avoided if adult instruments are properly stored and if children are educated to properly use writing devices.