Longterm follow-up of children with traumatic optic nerve avulsion.
OBJECTIVE
We report the longterm follow-up of children with optic nerve avulsion (ONA) caused by traumatic events. The remarkable differences in courses and outcomes may elucidate the spectrum of ONA-associated symptoms and injuries.


METHODS
During the last 15 years, three children with ONA were referred to our department. These cases are presented with special attention to their longterm follow-up.


RESULTS
Two patients suffered from complete ONA after head injury. The third patient presented with partial ONA caused by a bicycle accident. Longterm follow-up varied between 7 and 15 years. In the first patient, a pale swollen retina without any visible retinal vasculature was observed early in the course of follow-up. The retina later completely detached. In the second patient, extended fibroglial scarring occurred and an extremely large epiretinal membrane formed and was finally released spontaneously into the vitreous. The third patient developed only mild fibroglial scarring and retinal pigment epithelium hyperplasia. The optic nerve head in this patient came to resemble a morning glory disc.


CONCLUSIONS
Optic nerve avulsion can adopt different courses and outcomes in different patients. Final visual outcome seems to depend on the degree of visual acuity immediately after injury. Substantial intraocular architecture changes can occur as a result of ONA.
Sturm
Veit
V
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. veit_sturm@yahoo.com
Menke
Marcel N
MN
Bergamin
Oliver
O
Landau
Klara
K
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*