[Forensic assessment of eye blasts in active military personal]. / Évaluation médicolégale des blasts oculaires chez le militaire actif.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ocular blast injuries are defined as ocular damage caused by explosives. Within the military, they are considered work accidents resulting from military service, and they are therefore governed by the military disability pension system, which utilizes a specific scale. OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical presentation and course of ocular blast injuries. To describe the particularities of forensic expertise in military settings. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 28 eyes of 15 military personnel with ocular blast injuries. A baseline ophthalmologic examination was performed to assess of all the eyes and the general lesions caused by the trauma. A military medicine expert opinion was obtained from the date of consolidation. The rates of permanent partial disability (PPD) and the aptitude or not for military activities were specified according to the specific scale of the military disability pension system. RESULTS: The mean age of the victims was 27.53 years. A mine explosion was the predominant cause of ocular damage. Trauma to the ocular adnexa occurred in 4 eyes. Anterior segment injuries were noted in 19 eyes, with a mean initial visual acuity of 1/10. Posterior segment lesions occurred in 14 eyes, with a mean initial visual acuity of 0.5/10. Ruptured globes occurred in 3 eyes of 2 patients. All the victims presented with systemic lesions in addition to ocular ones. The average PPD rate was approximately 58%. CONCLUSION: Regarding the particular clinical features of ocular blast injuries, military victims must be managed and fairly compensated according to specific regulations.