Ocular Trauma in Children at Women and children Hospital (Hospital Wanita Dan Kanak-Kanak), Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Ocular trauma is a significant health problem in paediatric age group. This study is to evaluate the demographics, etiology, management and visual outcome of paediatric ocular trauma in Sabah. This is a retrospective review of all ocular trauma occurring in the paediatric age group from age 12 years old and below from January to December 2014 at Hospital Wanita Dan Kanak-Kanak, Sabah. Medical records were reviewed and the data was examined based on Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) system. Incomplete case notes were excluded from the study. A total of 37 cases were accumulated during the study period. All the paediatric ocular trauma cases were admitted and accounted for 13.4% of the total paediatric eye ward admission. However, 4 cases were excluded from the study as the medical records were incomplete. There were 26(78.8%) males while 7(21.2%) female children with a ratio male: female of 3.7: 1. There were 31(93.9%) unilateral ocular injury cases while only 2(6.1%) bilateral injury caused by chemical injury. The most common type of ocular trauma was closed globe injury totaling 24 (72.7%) cases. Trauma caused by blunt object contributed to the highest mode of injury 15 (45.5%) of cases. Open globe injuries which had poor visual outcome accounted for 9 (27.3%) cases. Most of patients required surgical treatment 21(63.6%) while 12(36.4%) cases treated non-surgically. In conclusion, ocular trauma was more common in male and pre-school age group. The main aetiology was blunt injury. Most of the cases treated surgically. Poorer visual outcome was observed in open globe injury.