Severe ocular injuries from pointed door handles in children.
OBJECTIVE
To report severe ocular injuries caused by pointed door handles in children.


METHODS
Noncomparative, interventional, retrospective case series.


METHODS
Clinical records of 15 patients who sustained severe ocular injuries from door handles were reviewed for place of trauma, presenting symptoms and signs, surgical procedures performed, and final outcome.


METHODS
Trauma caused by complications from the door handle injury, such as loss of vision and ocular and adnexal injuries, and treatment rendered.


RESULTS
There were 12 boys and 3 girls with an average age of 7.8 years (range, 6-10 years). Place of trauma was at home in 12 children and in school in 3 children. Presenting visual acuity (VA) was 4/200 in 1 patient, light perception (LP) in 5 patients, and no light perception (NLP) in 9 patients. There were 9 eyelid or canalicular lacerations, 4 ruptured globes, and 14 optic nerve avulsions. All ruptured globes were repaired initially and eyelid and canalicular lacerations were repaired primarily within 24 hours of presentation. Average follow-up was 21 months (range, 1 month-8 years). Final VA was 20/30 in 1 patient, LP in 1 patient, and NLP in 13 patients. Eight eyes required enucleation for painful blind eye or to achieve optimal cosmesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Pointed door handles installed at current heights may pose a significant risk of ocular and periocular injuries among young children.
Chaudhry
Imtiaz A
IA
Oculoplastic and Orbit Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. orbitdr_kkesh@yahoo.com
Al-Sharif
Abdulrahman M
AM
Shamsi
Farrukh A
FA
Elzaridi
Elsanusi
E
Al-Rashed
Waleed
W
D002648:Child; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D009915:Orbit / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D012421:Rupture; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014792:Visual Acuity