Perforating injuries: causes and risks are changing. A retrospective study.
We reanalyzed all 384 records of perforating injuries primarily admitted to the University Eye Hospital of Freiburg during the years 1981-1983 and 1987-1989. Complete data could be obtained from 369 records. Injuries from 1987-1989 were compared with those from 1981-1983 with regard to the cause and extent of the perforation as well as sex, age, occupation, and activity of the patient at the time of injury. The following significant trends were observed. Seat-belt legislation in 1984 was extremely beneficial for the prevention of penetrating occular injuries, especially among women aged 16-25 years. Of 39 injuries to women, 17 (43%) were related to traffic accidents in 1981-1983 as opposed to only 1 of 16 injuries (6%) in 1987-1989. Therefore, the male/female ratio increased from 4.1 to 9.6 (P = 0.006). Perforations during traffic accidents declined from 26% (52/199) to 11% (19/170). The number of occupational injuries remained constant, although their proportion increased from 42.7% (85/199) in 1981-1983 to 50% (85/170) in 1987-1989. High-risk activities at work as well as during leisure time changed from hammering to work with rotating machines (drills, lathes) and wires. The incidence of agricultural injuries rose from 4% to 9% (from 8 to 15). Injuries during leisure activities remained constant (66 vs 62). Among this group, injuries related to a hobby increased, whereas perforations occurring during visits to pubs or festivities decreased. Pediatric injuries remained constant and were responsible for 15.6% and 14.7%, respectively, of all injuries (age, < or = 15 years).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Schrader
W
W
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Freiburg, Germany.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors