Journal article
Traumatic rupture of the globe caused by cow horns.
- 2002-09-11
Published in:
- European journal of ophthalmology. - 2002
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Cattle
Child
Child, Preschool
Eye Enucleation
Eye Injuries, Penetrating
Female
Horns
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Orbit
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Rupture
Switzerland
Visual Acuity
English
PURPOSE
We investigated the epidemiology, clinical findings and functional outcome of open-globe injuries caused by cow horns over a 50-year period in eastern Switzerland.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated the files of cases with ruptures of the globe caused by cow horns between 1950 and 1999.
RESULTS
We found 59 cases with ruptures of the globe by cow horns, accounting for 5% of all open-globe injuries. The incidence of these accidents did not change during the observation period. Twenty-two eyes (37%) were enucleated. Only 7 eyes (12%) retained a vision of > or = 0.1. Between 1950 and 1989 only 2/43 eyes (5%) reached a vision of > or = 0.1. In the 1990's, with the introduction of vitreous surgery 5/16 eyes (31%) had a vision of > or = 0.1. Four patients (7%) had blinding eye disease in the partner eye, and three (5%) had a second open-globe trauma.
CONCLUSIONS
In rural regions, with cattle breeding, open-globe injuries by cow horns are relatively common and the frequency is still the same as 50 years ago. The visual prognosis of these eyes is still guarded, but functional results have improved with the introduction of vitreous surgery. Patients who have had a rupture of the globe appear to have an increased risk for partner eye trauma. Therefore, all efforts are justified to preserve even limited vision in severely injured eyes.
We investigated the epidemiology, clinical findings and functional outcome of open-globe injuries caused by cow horns over a 50-year period in eastern Switzerland.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated the files of cases with ruptures of the globe caused by cow horns between 1950 and 1999.
RESULTS
We found 59 cases with ruptures of the globe by cow horns, accounting for 5% of all open-globe injuries. The incidence of these accidents did not change during the observation period. Twenty-two eyes (37%) were enucleated. Only 7 eyes (12%) retained a vision of > or = 0.1. Between 1950 and 1989 only 2/43 eyes (5%) reached a vision of > or = 0.1. In the 1990's, with the introduction of vitreous surgery 5/16 eyes (31%) had a vision of > or = 0.1. Four patients (7%) had blinding eye disease in the partner eye, and three (5%) had a second open-globe trauma.
CONCLUSIONS
In rural regions, with cattle breeding, open-globe injuries by cow horns are relatively common and the frequency is still the same as 50 years ago. The visual prognosis of these eyes is still guarded, but functional results have improved with the introduction of vitreous surgery. Patients who have had a rupture of the globe appear to have an increased risk for partner eye trauma. Therefore, all efforts are justified to preserve even limited vision in severely injured eyes.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1177/112067210201200409
- PMID 12220001
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/253975
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