Corneal perforation and delayed anterior chamber collapse from a devil's club thorn.
OBJECTIVE
To report the corneal perforation and delayed collapse of the anterior chamber caused by the thorn from a devil's club plant.


METHODS
An 8-year-old Alaska Native girl was struck in the eye with the stalk and leaves of a devil's club plant. Although 3 thorns from the plant were found to be lodged superficially in the corneal stroma, 1 was deeply embedded to the level of Descemet's membrane. The thorn was surrounded by a stromal infiltrate. Four days after the injury, the patient suffered a sudden collapse of the anterior chamber after the deeply embedded thorn became dislodged.


RESULTS
The corneal wound was sutured, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience suggests that devil's club corneal injuries should be examined daily after the initial injury. The anterior chamber may suddenly collapse after a deeply embedded thorn becomes dislodged.
Mader
Thomas H
TH
Department of Ophthalmology, Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. thmader@anmc.org
Werner
Robert P
RP
Chamberlain
David G
DG
D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009757:Nylons; D028002:Oplopanax; D018547:Plant Stems; D012421:Rupture; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures
D009757:Nylons