Background
Eye injuries are a serious health problem globally. Ocular trauma accounts for 5% of blindness cases. In India broomstick injury is very common. But only few studies are published regarding the nature and outcome of broomstick ocular injuries. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency, mode of presentation, complications and surgical results with a view to offering solutions to reduce this trend.
Methods
This retrospective study was conducted at Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Patna. The records of all patients presenting to the Eye OPD and Emergency clinic with ocular trauma from broomstick injury between March2017 and April 2020 were reviewed. A total of 120 cases were identified. Patient’s age, gender, interval between injury and presentation to eye OPD, mechanism of injury, activity at time of injury, visual acuity at presentation, anterior and posterior segment findings, diagnosis, complications, treatments offered and follow-up events were documented. Data were analysed statistically.
Results
The mean age of presentation was 8.10 ± 4.93 years. All were children < 15 years old. 80% patients sustained trauma from broomstick shot as an arrow. 70% had presenting vision < Hand movement. 90% of the cases were open globe injuries. Most of them had multiple complications such as corneal perforation (80%), traumatic cataract (27%), endophthalmitis (68%), retinal detachment (12.5%), panophthalmitis 8 (7%) and orbital cellulitis (6%). Culture was positive in 20%. Pseudomonas aeuroginosa was the most common organism isolated. Therapeutic vitrectomy was performed in 67% eyes. Only 12% eyes gained ambulatory vision (VA > 3/60) after vitrectomy.
Conclusion
Broomstick shot as an arrow causes devastating and multiple complications resulting in rapid and immediate loss of vision. Overall prognosis is bad and early presentation to the hospital does not appear to improve the prognosis. Such injuries often affect younger, male children. Primary prevention is the only way to control blindness occurring from such injuries. Primary health education should be given in school to highlight these risk factors.