Ocular injuries in patients with orbital fractures in a tertiary level hospital in Tanzania: A cross-sectional study

In plain language

Orbital fractures frequently coincide with eye injuries, yet clinical data regarding this relationship remain limited in Tanzania. A one-year cross-sectional study evaluated patients presenting with orbital fractures at Muhimbili National Hospital to document their ocular injuries and post-treatment outcomes. The findings showed that every patient presenting with an orbital fracture sustained minor ocular trauma, with subconjunctival haemorrhage identified as the most prevalent condition. In addition, nearly a third of the patients presented with three distinct types of ocular injury. Major or serious eye injuries occurred in approximately one in eight patients. Following clinical management, a small proportion of patients continued to experience ocular-related complications. Overall, while eye involvement is consistently observed in orbital bone fractures, severe injuries are relatively uncommon.

Key takeaways

All patients presenting with orbital fractures sustained minor ocular injuries.
Subconjunctival haemorrhage was the most frequently observed eye injury among the patients.
Major ocular injuries were recorded in 12.2 percent of the cohort.
Nearly a third of the evaluated patients experienced three distinct ocular injuries.
Post-treatment ocular complications persisted in 9.2 percent of patients during follow-up.

Why it matters

Orbital fractures carry a high risk of accompanying eye trauma, which can lead to complications if not properly addressed. Identifying the patterns and frequency of ocular injuries helps healthcare providers in tertiary centres better anticipate complications, improve clinical triage, and refine treatment approaches for patients presenting with facial and orbital trauma.

Commercialisation angle

The abstract does not indicate an application pathway, as it focuses strictly on observational clinical outcomes and epidemiological data within a hospital setting.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ocular injuries are common in patients with orbital fractures. However, in Tanzania, there is a paucity of studies investigating ocular injuries associated with orbital fractures. Hence, this study aimed to determine the ocular injuries in patients who have sustained orbital fractures in Tanzania. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out for a year at Muhimbili National Hospital. All patients who had sustained orbital fractures were recruited for the study. The questionnaire was designed to obtain patients' sociodemographic information, presenting ocular findings, and outcomes after treatment. The data were analyzed using IBM, NY, USA ® SPSS Statistics version 27. RESULTS: = 40, 30.5%) had three different ocular injuries. While all patients had minor ocular injuries, only 16 (12.2%) had major ocular injuries. During follow-up postmanagement of the orbital injuries, 12 (9.2%) patients had ocular-related complications despite the management offered. CONCLUSION: The ocular injuries are evident in all patients who have sustained orbital bone fractures; however, the occurrence of major/serious ocular injury is low. Subconjunctival hemorrhage is the most frequently observed ocular injury.

Research topics

Facial Trauma and Fracture Management
Traumatic Ocular and Foreign Body Injuries
Ocular Disorders and Treatments

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