The Changes in the Clinical Features of Pediatric Ocular Trauma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To review the recent changes in the clinical features of ocular trauma in pediatric patients younger than 15 years of age. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using clinical records of 147 patients from 1993 to 1998, and those of 175 pediatric patients younger than 15 years old from 2003 to 2007. RESULTS: The most common cause of pediatric ocular trauma in the 2000's was fist blow (66 patients, 37.7%), while that in the 1990's was trauma by stick or branch (20 patients, 13.6%) (p < 0.001). The number of patients with perforating ocular trauma decreased to 25 patients (14.3%) in the 2000's, from 55 patients (37.4%) in the 1990's (p < 0.001). The number of patients who received surgery due to ocular trauma was 87 (59.2%) in the 1990's, decreasing to 53 (30.3%) in the 2000's (p < 0.001). The number of orbital wall reconstructions increased from 6 patients (6.9%) in the 1990's to 20 patients (37.7%) in the 2000's, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Perforating ocular trauma decreased in children in the studied age range, but non-perforating injuries caused by fist blow were increased in the years studied. These results indicate that management or establishment of preventive for pediatric violence will be helpful to lower the frequency of pediatric ocular traumas.