Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of post-traumatic endophthalmitis following open-globe injury and identify factors affecting its frequency in order to gain further knowledge about possible risk factors for the development of endophthalmitis.

Methods: All consecutive records of open globe injury cases (4968 eyes in 4865 inpatients) in 15 tertiary referral hospitals in China over 5 years (January 2001 to December 2005) were retrospectively reviewed. The information was collected from a standardised database of eye injuries from which a detailed analysis of factors influencing the incidence of endophthalmitis was performed.

Results: 173 eyes (one bilateral rupture of a male) removed within 24 h after trauma were excluded. It was observed that 571 eyes (571 patients) out of a total of 4795 eyes (4693 patients) developed endophthalmitis, and the rate of incidence was 11.91%. Laceration was an independent risk factor for open globe injury. Primary repair within 24 h, intraocular tissue prolapse and self-sealing of wounds seemed to impart protective effects against the development of endophthalmitis. However, gender, age, lens breach and posterior zone of wounds were not significant. Intravitreal antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy was administered to 53 eyes (9.28%), and vitrectomy was performed on 305 eyes (53.42%). At discharge or follow-up, the proportion (16.81%) of enucleation/evisceration of eyes with endophthalmitis was higher than that (8.71%) without endophthalmitis.

Conclusions: Laceration was associatied with a significantly higher risk of endophthalmitis for open globe injuries. Early primary repair, intraocular tissue prolapse and self-sealing of wounds were independent protective factors against the development of endophthalmitis.