RETROSPECTIVE STUDY,SEVERITY,MANAGEMENT,PEDIATRIC OCULAR INJURY,CENTRAL HOSPITAL SAPELE, DELTASTATE(2020-2024)

A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE SEVERITY AND MANAGEMENTOFPEDIATRIC OCULAR INJURY IN CENTRAL HOSPITAL SAPELE, DELTASTATE(2020-2024)

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Abstract
Pediatric ocular trauma is a significant public health concern, with potential long-termconsequences on vision and quality of life. This study was aimed at investigating the severityandmanagement of pediatric ocular injuries in Sapele, Delta State. A retrospective study was carriedout to analyze the clinical record of pediatric patients that presented to Central Hospital withinJanuary 1
st, 2020 to October 1
st, 2024. A total of 223 patients, males 139 (62.3%) and females84(37.7%), were found to have pediatric ocular injury with a mean age of 11.46 ± 4.7. Themost
common type of injury sustained was the closed globe injury (76.1%) followed by openglobeinjury (6.7%) while thermal injury (1.8%) was the least frequently seen. Injuries were foundtobe caused by physical assault (14.4%), broomsticks (6.3%) and even self-inflicted (5.3%). Thecornea was the most affected structure (57.4%) by pediatric ocular injury. An initial visual acuityof 6/6 was recorded (22.6%) for a good percentage of the patients that were compliant. Therewas a statistically significant relationship between the initial visual acuity and the cause of injury(p<0.05). Majority of pediatric ocular injuries (87.9%) that presented to the hospital weremanaged medically. Corneal ulcer was the most common (n=77) diagnosis of pediatric patientsthat visited the hospital and it took an average of one week to heal. More than half of thepediatric patients had mild injuries (57.8%). Chi-square test was used to determine if therewassignificant relationship between the severity of injury and initial visual acuity. The result gavep<0.05 showing that there was a statistically significant relationship. 49 eyes (22.0%) of the
xi
patients were found to have a visual acuity of <3/60-NLP at presentation, while 23(10.3%) werefound to have severe visual impairment after treatment. There is a significant risk of visual lossassociated with ocular trauma and thus, the need for effective methods to prevent its occurrence. Keywords: Pediatric ocular trauma, corneal ulcer, severe visual impairment, visual acuity.
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