An analysis of the time delay of surgical treatment of ocular trauma at a Tertiary Institution in Johannesburg, South Africa: a 1-year retrospective review
Date
2017
Authors
Seobi, Teboho
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Abstract
Study Aim: To determine whether patients admitted with open globe injuries are surgically
repaired within the 24-hour period after injury.
Method: A retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study of patients who were admitted with
ocular trauma at the St John Eye Hospital from 01/01/2014 to 31/12/2014.
Results:
Five hundred and eighty-three patients with ocular trauma were admitted. Four hundred and sixty-seven
patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients <18 years had statistically significant fewer cases
delayed post-admission as compared to patients >18 years (12.82% vs 28.46%). The time
between injury and surgical treatment was > 24 hours in 89.74% of patients <18 years and
92.31% in patients >18 years. The reasons for delay were insufficient general anaesthetic time,
anaesthetic failure, logistical failures and patient factors.
Conclusion:
Time delay to surgical treatment was mainly as a result of delayed presentation to the health
facility. The majority of patients received surgical treatment within 24 hours after admission.
The delay in surgical treatment of admitted patients was mainly due to late presentation and
system failures.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in
the branch of Ophthalmology.
Johannesburg, 2017.
Keywords
Ocular Trauma