Early versus Delayed Timing of Primary Repair after Open-Globe Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

TOPIC: The timing of primary repair of open-globe injury is variable in major trauma centers worldwide, and consensus on optimal timing is lacking. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgery is the mainstay of open-globe injury management, and appropriate timing of surgical repair may minimize the risk of potentially blinding complications such as endophthalmitis, thereby optimizing visual outcomes. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews identifier, CRD42023442972). The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, and ISRCTN registries and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception through October 29, 2023. Prospective and retrospective nonrandomized studies of patients with open-globe injury with a minimum of 1 month of follow-up after primary repair were included. Primary outcomes included visual acuity at last follow-up and the proportion of patients with endophthalmitis. Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria, reporting a total of 8497 eyes. The most common injury types were penetrating and intraocular foreign body (IOFB). Meta-analysis found that primary repair less than 24 hours after open-globe injury was associated with 0.30 odds of endophthalmitis compared with primary repair conducted more than 24 hours after trauma (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.79; I2 = 95%; P = 0.01). No significant difference was found in reported visual outcomes between patients whose open-globe injuries were repaired more than, compared with less than, 24 hours after trauma (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.61-1.29; I2 = 70%; P = 0.52). All included studies were retrospective and nonrandomized, demonstrating an overall low certainty of evidence on GRADE assessment. DISCUSSION: Only retrospective data exist around the effect of timing of open-globe repair, resulting in low certainty of the available evidence. However, this review of current evidence, predominantly including penetrating and IOFB injuries, suggests that primary repair performed less than 24 hours after open-globe injury is associated with a reduced endophthalmitis rate compared with longer delays, consistent with delay to primary repair increasing endophthalmitis risk. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Novel use of an autologous scleral button graft to close the anterior defect in evisceration surgery.

PURPOSE: To present an alternative evisceration technique with long-term follow-up data. This technique involves the insertion of an acrylic implant into a modified scleral shell which is closed using an autologous scleral graft. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of eviscerations performed in a district-general hospital in the UK. All patients underwent conventional ocular evisceration after total keratectomy. A full thickness scleral graft is harvested from the posterior sclera, using an internal approach, with an 8 mm dermatological punch. An 18-20 mm acrylic implant is placed into the shell, and the scleral graft is used to close the anterior defect. Demographic characteristics, implant size and type, and cosmetic results from pictures of all patients were recorded. All patients were invited for a review to measure motility, eyelid height, patient recorded satisfaction and complications. RESULTS: Of the five patients identified, one had since died. The remaining four attended a review in person. The mean time between surgery and review was 48 months. The mean implant size was 19 mm. There were no cases of implant extrusion or infection. All four had a <1 mm asymmetry in measured eyelid height and ≥5 mm horizontal gaze motility. All patients self-reported "good" cosmesis. An independent assessment identified "mild asymmetry" in two cases and "moderate" in the other two. CONCLUSION: Evisceration with this novel autologous scleral graft technique restores volume in the anterior orbit with good cosmetic results, and with no cases of implant exposure reported in this small case series. This technique should be compared prospectively to established techniques.

Temporary keratoprosthesis and primary corneal graft for ocular trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: When severe retinal and corneal injury occur together, a temporary keratoprosthesis (TKP) is often a last resort to allow posterior segment visualization to enable vitreoretinal surgery, followed by a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) which can restore corneal clarity in a single operation. We aimed to assess visual outcomes following combined PKP and vitreoretinal surgery with the use of a TKP for cases of ocular trauma. DESIGN: A systematic literature review was performed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023423518). METHODS: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, ISRCTN registry and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to 27 April 2023. Randomized and non-randomized studies assessing visual outcomes after combined vitreoretinal surgery and PKP with the use of a TKP after ocular trauma were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes included change in best corrected visual acuity, corneal graft survival and retinal reattachment at final follow up. Proportional meta-analysis was used to estimate the overall rate of the primary outcomes. Risk of bias for non-randomized studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for case series. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies met inclusion criteria reporting a total of 352 eyes. All studies were retrospective and non-randomized with follow up times ranging from 6 to 91 months, with at least 79% of outcomes reported after 6 months. After combined surgery the rate of corneal graft survival was 52% (95% CI 0.41-0.62; I2 60%) successful retinal attachment was 79% (95% CI 0.73-0.84; I2 0%). and improved visual acuity, when compared to no change or decrease in visual acuity, was 45% (95% CI 0.32-0.59; I2 66%). CONCLUSION: Patients with severe injury affecting the anterior and posterior segments have very limited treatment options. This systematic review found that when combined vitreoretinal surgery and PKP with a TKP are performed, approximately half of corneal grafts survive, anatomically successful retinal reattachment is likely, and a similar proportion of patients benefit in terms of improved visual acuity, compared to their preoperative function. This systematic review of the available literature may help inform surgeons of the benefits of using a TKP for cases of ocular trauma.