title: Open globe injuries in Nigerian children: epidemiological characteristics, etiological factors, and visual outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, the etiological factors, the type and severity of injury, visual outcome, and prognostic factors of open globe injuries in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective non-comparative case study. A chart review was performed of patients aged 16 years or younger presented at the Eye Unit of the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, Nigeria, between January 2001 and December 2006. Data were collected on patient demographics, geographic locale of injury, type of ocular injury and vision. Statistical significance was indicated by P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample comprised 78 children. A statistically significantly greater number of males (n = 51) sustained injury compared to females (n = 27; P < 0.05). The mean age of the study sample was 9.7 ± 2.40 years (range, 1 year 2 months to 15 years 8 months). The age-group that sustained injury most commonly was 6 years to 10 years. Left eyes were more likely to be affected, accounting for 53 (68.0%) cases. There were 54% (n = 42) of patients injured at home and 51.0% (n = 40) were injured while playing. The most common injury was corneoscleral laceration, (67.9% [n = 24] eyes). Only 30.0% (n = 23) patients presented within the first 24 hours of the injury, 38.5% (n = 30) of patients were visually impaired and 25.6% (n = 20) patients were blind on presentation. Visual acuity at last follow up indicated that 39.7% (n = 31) patients were visually impaired and 39.7% (n = 31) were blind.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More public health efforts should be geared towards preventing potential causes of ocular injury at home and at playgrounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Cecilia O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ojabo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Keziah N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Malu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olasupo S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Corneoscleral Laceration; Home; Play; Sharp Object