Evaluation of Ocular Trauma Score and risk factors to predict evisceration or enucleation in open globe injuries

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors for evisceration or enucleation surgery after open globe injury (OGI) and to investigate the effectiveness of the ocular trauma score (OTS) in predicting the outcome.

Data from 380 patients who underwent OGI repair were retrospectively analyzed. The eyes of 31 patients who underwent evisceration or enucleation after OGI repair and who were followed up for at least 6 months were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, presence of rupture, penetrating injury, endophthalmitis, retinal detachment and afferent pupillary defect were evaluated and OTS was calculated. The etiology of OGI, the interval between OGI repair and evisceration, the presence of eyelid and canalicular laceration, orbital fractures, prolapsed choroidal tissue, and the presence of foreign bodies were also analyzed. The size of the sphere after evisceration/enucleation, the need for revision surgery and the time to revision surgery were evaluated.

Of the 380 patients, 31 (8.15%) underwent evisceration or enucleation after OGI. 19 of 31 patients underwent evisceration after primary repair of OGI, 10 patients underwent evisceration without OGI repair; 1 patient underwent enucleation after OGI repair and 1 patient underwent enucleation without OGI repair. The mean OTS was 37.95 in the group with evisceration/enucleation after OGI repair and 29.55 in the group without repair. The mean interval between OGI and evisceration was 2.4±5.9 (0-13) months. The etiology of 10 (32.2%) OGIs were traffic accidents, 9 (29%) were penetrating trauma with cutting or penetrating instruments, 8 (25.8%) were blunt trauma, and 4 (12.9%) were gunshot wounds. The mean follow-up time was 38.9±23.59 (6-72) months. There was no significant difference in OTS according to age, gender, affected side and etiology. Although OTS was lower in patients with additional injuries than in those without, the difference not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant decrease in OTS from zone 1 (cornea and limbus) to zone 3 (posterior to 5mm from the limbus) (P=0.015, r=-0.433).

The decision and consent for evisceration/enucleation after an open globe injury is very difficult for both patients and physicians. We believe that the presence of the injury in zone 3 and the presence of rupture are poor prognostic factors and that an OTS below 49 could be a risk factor for evisceration/enucleation. In conclusion, the OTS could be an objective parameter that provides an objective idea of visual rehabilitation and prognosis and helps in decision making for further surgery.