Traumatic endophthalmitis and the outcome after vitrectomy in young children

AIM: To explore the traumatic endophthalmitis in young children and the outcome of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). METHODS: Twenty-two eyes of 22 cases of young children consecutive pediatric traumatic endophthalmitis treated and followed up between September 2014 and May 2018 were included. Aqueous humor or vitreous samples were taken for bacterial culture and sensitivity tests. Intravitreal antibiotics (norvancomycin and ceftazidime) injection, combined with 23-gauge PPV, were administered in 22 eyes. Silicone oil (SO; 5000 centistoke) tamponade or perfluoropropane gas (C3F8) was used in all patients. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and retinal attachment, the ratio of penetrating injury, and the existence of intraocular foreign body. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 6.9 +/- 2.2 (range, 3-10)y. All injured eyes suffered from penetrating ocular injury with retained intraocular foreign body in one eye. Bacterial culture was positive in only 2 eyes. The mean follow-up time was 21.1 +/- 4.7 (range, 12-30)mo. In the primary PPV, intravitreal antibiotics was administrated in all eyes, SO in 18 eyes, and C3F8 in 4 eyes. The secondary operation of SO removal and C3F8 endotamponade was performed in 16 eyes and a second SO endotamponade due to emulsification of the oil and retinal detachment (RD) was operated in 7 eyes underwent 3 to 11.5mo after primary PPV. A third operation was done in 7 eyes. The final intraocular pressure (IOP) was 8.9 +/- 1.8 (range, 6.9-11.4) mm Hg. The final BCVAs were 20/200 or better in 5, counting fingers in 2, and light perception to hand movement in 8 eyes. Whose 66.7%) had retinal injury exhibited worse BCVA (P=0.019, Fisher's exact test). Eyes underwent SO tamponade exhibited worse final BCVA than that with C3F8 in the primary PPV (P=0.026, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: Traumatic endophthalmitis in children is generally more severe and associated with more complicated surgical procedures. Most patients have retinal injury need multiple operations and the final BCVA is poor. Prevention of ocular trauma, especially in children, is still critical.