Outpatient visits and secondary surgeries following open globe injuries: a single institution retrospective analysis

TL;DR

This study examines outpatient visits and secondary surgeries following eye injuries, finding that many patients require multiple follow-ups and additional procedures.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the frequency and predictors of outpatient visits and secondary surgeries after open globe injuries.

Findings

Patients had an average of 5.3 outpatient visits within a year of injury.

35% of patients required at least one secondary surgery.

Retinal detachment and traumatic cataract were significant predictors of both outpatient visits and secondary surgeries.

Abstract

Open globe injuries (OGIs) impose a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system. This study reports outpatient visits and secondary surgeries associated with OGIs

A retrospective chart review of OGI repairs at a Level 1 Trauma Center from 2015-2023 was conducted. Two areas of resource utilization, outpatient office visits and secondary surgeries required within a year of the injury were recorded and predictors were identified

Of 619 patients (mean age 46±22 years; 76.7% male), most had OGIs from blunt traumatic etiology (57.0%) with injury in zone I (65.9%). On average, patients had 5.3±4.7 office visits, where 8% of patients had no follow-up, 76% had 1–9 visits, and 16% had 10 or more visits. Thirty-five percent required at least one secondary surgery (mean 0.5±0.8). Clinical factors, including presenting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), predicted utilization. Predictors for office visits included injury zone (p=0.02), retinal detachment (p<0.001), vitreous hemorrhage (p=0.014), and traumatic cataract (p=0.011). Retinal detachment (p<0.001), and traumatic cataract (p<0.001) were predictive of secondary surgeries. The most common surgeries were pars plana vitrectomy (n=124), cataract extraction (n=46), enucleation (n=33), and corneal transplant (n=21)

OGI management often requires additional procedures with significant follow-up. Overall trends suggest greater utilization among eyes with significant injury that still maintain potential for visual recovery.

Figures