title: [Critical analysis of cases of injury to the eye and its appendages treated in the University Hospital Centre in abidjan between 1976 and 1977 (author's transl)].
abstract: The number of patients treated for eye injuries in the University Hospital Centre, Cocady, Abidjan alone was 206 during the period 2 January 1976 to 26 November 1977. The authors conducted a critical analysis of the cause and frequency of these injuries, which occupy the second place in the affections treated in their department, and which are becoming a true social scourge in the Ivory Coast because of the frequency of subsequent blindness. All social classes are involved but the highest incidence is found in young active persons. The most frequently encountered causes are discussed, together with the circumstances under which they occurred. Though the majority of victims have suffered occupational accidents, the automobile takes a heavy toll among the many car drivers that are not always adequately trained. Effective treatment of wounds of the globe, contusions are burns of the cornea, and other lesions requires adequate health education of both general practitioners and the general population, in order to ensure rapid treatment or transfer to a Department of Ophthalmology. Prophylactic measures are suggested which could diminish the incidence of these injuries in the future. By presenting this report the authors hope to sound by signal of alarm and thus draw the attention of the appropriate authorities and the general population to the importance of eye injuries and the medical, social, and economic problems that arise from them.
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Traumatismes du globe oculaire et de ses annexes. Etude faite au CHU d'Abidjan de 1976 à 1977.