gms | German Medical Science

Purpose: To study the main clinical characteristics and treatment of eye injuries during the war in Ukraine.

Methods: We observed 18 traumatized eyes of 13 patients (military-11, civil-2). Monolateral eye injury-8, bilateral-5. Closed globe injury-5 eyes, open eye-13. The mean age-35 years. Terms of admission to the institute for highly specialized assistance (2^nd stage of treatment) after trauma: 2 days - 1 patient, 5 days - 1, 7-30 days -11. At the 1st stage of the treatment (other clinics) primary surgery (PS) of eyelids was performed in 3 cases, PS of the corneal wound - 5, PS of the scleral wound- 3, washing of the anterior chamber- 1, enucleation - 1. VA: pr.l.incertae - 4 eyes, pr.l.certae - 0.02 - 11 eyes, 0.1 - 1, 1.0 - 2.

Results: Contusion of the eye was in closed injury in 5 eyes. Open globe injuries: penetrating injury-7, with IOFB in the posterior segment–6. 1 zone was damaged in 7 eyes, 2 zone - 6. Traumatic retinal detachment was detected in 5 eyes, ciliochoroidal detachment-5, retinal break-1, secondary macular degeneration-4. Phthisis bulbi-3. There were also multiple foreign bodies of the eyelids, face and cornea, eyelid injuries, mydriasis, traumatic cataract, vitreous hemorrhage, partial optic nerve atrophy, fracture of the orbital bones, ophthalmohypertension. Concomitant general pathology: multiple injuries of the face skin, trauma of the chest, limbs, pelvis. We performed: PPV in 10 eyes (with removal of IOFB-6, 4 of them with PEC and 1-keratoplasty, for retinal detachment-2, PPV -2), PEC-1, delayed PS, others. PPV could not be performed in 3 eyes with phthisis bulbi.

Conclusion: In our observation group 38% of patients had bilateral trauma, 72% - open injury. 72% of the eyes required VRS, but only in 55% cases it was performed due to late terms and phthisis bulbi. At the 2nd stage reconstructive VRS is the main treatment. The timing of PPV is a major problem due to difficulties in evacuation, transportation and polytrauma.