Ocular complications of thermal injury: a 3-year retrospective

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis and treatment of thermal ocular injuries are often delayed because facial burns are usually associated with life-threatening injuries requiring immediate intervention. The purpose of the present study is to review the diagnosis and management of ocular complications associated with thermal burns in a tertiary care burn unit.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the charts of patients admitted to the Loyola University Medical Center Burn Unit between January 1993 and January 1996 were reviewed.

Results: Of the 1,461 patients who were admitted to the burn unit during that period, 155 (10.6%) required ophthalmic consultation. Sixty-one patients (4.2%) had ocular injury, the most common type being periorbital burn and edema followed by corneal involvement. Thirty-one of the 61 patients (51%) received consultation on the day of admission. Six of the 61 patients (10%) required surgical intervention. There was no correlation between number of days to consultation and need for surgical intervention. Patients requiring surgery were more likely to have suffered third-degree burns.

Conclusion: Because it is difficult to predict which patients suffering from thermal burns involving the eyes will require surgical intervention, ophthalmic consultation should be sought early.