Wound leak critical complication post open globe repair

(HealthDay)—Postoperative wound leak affects a substantial proportion of eyes following repair of open globe injuries, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.

George Y.X. Kong, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., from The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in East Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the clinical outcomes following repair of open globe injuries. Data were included from 267 eyes of 263 patients (82.5 percent male; mean age, 44.8 years). Patients were followed for an average of 6.9 months.

The researchers found that there were 83 globe ruptures, and 182 penetrating and two perforating eye injuries; 43 of these cases included intraocular foreign body. Poor presenting visual acuity, globe rupture, retinal detachment, and age ≥50 years contributed to final visual acuity of <6/60. Sixteen percent of eyes had wound leak, of which 41 percent proceeded to re-suturing. Stellate-shaped wound and delayed presentation were factors that contributed to wound leak. Endophthalmitis developed in 3.7 percent of eyes. Delayed presentation, microbial keratitis, and lens capsule breach were identified as factors that contributed to endophthalmitis.

"Wound leak is an important postoperative complication of open globe injury repair," the authors write. "Prompt and meticulous wound management of open globe injury may reduce these complications."

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