OCULAR TRAUMA SCORE IN OPEN GLOBE INJURIES INFLICTED ON TROOPS FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of calculating ocular trauma score in open globe injuries inflicted on troops fighting on western front of Pakistan.
Study Design: Validation study.
Place of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology Rawalpindi, a tertiary care facility of armed forces.
Duration of Study: Sixteen months (January 2009 to May 2010).
Patients and Methods: A total of 48 cases, all male were examined and investigated. Their injuries were classified according to Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETT). The ocular trauma score was calculated based on which patients were divided into categories 1 to 5. After appropriate treatment final visual acuity was noted at the end of six months which was then compared with estimated visual acuity as per Ocular Trauma Score group (OTS).
Results: A total of 48 males with mean age of 27.73 years (20-49 years) were included. On presentation the Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) of cases was NLP (no light perception) in 16.64%, LP/HM (light perception/hand motion) in 70.72%, CF-5/60 (count fingers) in 6.24%, 6/60-6/18 in 4.16% and > 6/12 in 2.08%. After calculating raw sum majority of the cases fell in categories 1 and 2 while there was no case in category 5. After treatment the BCVA recorded 6 months later was NLP in 18.72%, LP/HM in 64.48%, CF-5/60 in 6.24%, 6/60-6/18 in 8.32% and > 6/12 in 2.08%.
The observed frequencies of final visual acuity were then compared with the expected frequencies as per ocular trauma score group. It showed that our study had NLP significantly less and LP/HM significantly more than expected in categories 1 and 2.
Conclusion: In combat ocular trauma, Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System provides an unambiguous common language for sharing eye injury information and Ocular Trauma Score can be accepted as a reliable tool for providing prognostic information.