PK may elevate risk of traumatic wound dehiscence in the long term, study suggests

Traumatic wound dehiscence may be a long-term risk factor for patients after penetrating keratoplasty, according to a retrospective study by researchers in Ireland.

"Younger patients, especially males, should be made aware that their eye, after keratoplasty, will always be vulnerable to injury. High-risk situations should be avoided if possible. Older patients at particular risk should have adequate risk reduction strategies, social support and supervision, in particular to minimize the risk of falls," the authors said.

Michael A. Williams, BMedSci, MRCOphth, and colleagues at Royal Victoria Hospital and Queen's University of Belfast evaluated 572 consecutive eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasty and compared the results with 12 similar studies to determine the incidence and risk factors of traumatic graft dehiscence.

Of the 572 eyes, 15 eyes (2.6%) were treated for traumatic wound dehiscence after penetrating keratoplasty, the authors noted.

"The most striking feature of this series was the bimodal relationship of age and cause of graft dehiscence, with older patients involved in falls and younger patients in accidental or deliberate trauma," they said.

The study is published in the February issue of Ophthalmology.