Clinical Analysis of Posttraumatic Endophthalmitis

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, treatment, and the visual prognosis of posttraumatic endophthalmitis. Methods: Medical records of 322 eyes in 322 patients, who were diagnosed as penetrating ocular trauma from July 1996 to June 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Posttraumatic endophthalmitis developed in 30 (9.3%) of the 322 patients. There was an increased relative risk of infection in cases with poor initial visual acuity, lens disruption, delayed primary repair, and delayed use of systemic antibiotics. Of the 30 cases with infection, 12 (40%) achieved visual acuity of 0.1 or greater. In cases with poor initial visual acuity and with lens disruption, visual outcome was poorer. Conclusions: Risk factors for the development of posttraumatic endophthalmitis were poor initial visual acuity, lens disruption, delayed primary repair, and delayed use of systemic antibiotics. Poor prognostic factors were poor initial visual acuity and lens disruption.