Indications for Surgical Removal of the Eye in Irrua, Nigeria

Abstract

Method: A retrospective study of all cases of enucleation and evisceration carried out over a 10-year period -July 1997 to June 2007 -at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. Data from theatre records and case notes were analysed with respect to age, sex, interval between onset of symptoms and presentation, indications for surgery and type of surgery done.Results: A total of 42 patients had enucleation or evisceration during the period, accounting for 6.96% of all ophthalmic surgeries (603) over the same period. Eight eyes were enucleated (19.05%) and 34 eyes were eviscerated (80.95%). There were 21 males (50%) and 21 females (50%). The most common reason for removal of the eye was a ruptured globe secondary to severe ocular trauma (35.71%). This was followed by panophthalmitis (26.19%) and intraocular tumours (9.52%). Forty patients (95.2%) presented after one week of onset of ocular lesions; 20(47.6%) had used traditional eye medication, and 4 (9.5%) had used eye drops containing corticosteroids. Conclusion:Health education programmes aimed at increasing public awareness on dangers of self medication, the use of native medication and the need to present early to hospital are highly recommended. Also, protective goggles and helmets with plastic facial coverings are recommended for workers who are at risk for eye trauma.

Surgical removal of eyes in a tertiary institution in North eastern Nigeria

“…The male preponderance is this study is also consistent with previous work in Nigeria (2,4,5), rest of Africa (12,15) and Israel (16). Trauma was the most common indication for eye removal in this study as in several previous reports (2,3,5,6,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). Trauma is more common in adult (41.0%) than in children The AnnAls of AfricAn surgery | www.sskenya.org of evisceration compared to enucleation.…”

“…The study centre is a tertiary health institution in Bauchi state, in the north eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Although many studies on indications for eye removal have been carried out in Nigeria, majority are in the southern parts of the country (4,5,12). The north eastern zone of the country has the highest prevalence of blindness out of the 6 geopolitical zones (13).…”

Orbito-oculoplastic diseases in Lagos: A 4-year prospective study

“…Severe ocular injuries and ocular tumors, most commonly retinoblastoma, were the principal causes of eye removal in the study by Eze 19. Enock20 reported (80.95%) of his study population and (19.05%) respectively had evisceration and enucleation. In Madagascar2149.0% underwent similar procedures.…”

Indications for destructive eye surgeries in a state tertiary hospital in Enugu: a 10-year retrospective study

“…It could also be that females have better health-seeking behavior than males thus, they present early to the hospital when they have eye problems for appropriate treatment. However, the study by Enoch et al found equal sex predilection [18].…”