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Ocular injuries from firearms disproportionately affect boys, adolescents and blacks
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WASHINGTON — Firearms-related ocular injuries disproportionately affect boys, adolescents and blacks, according to a poster presented at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting.
Rebecca S. Weiss , MD, and colleagues evaluated incidence and demographic patterns of pediatric firearms-related injuries using data from a national trauma registry.
Of 1,972 cases analyzed by age, race and ethnicity, Weiss and colleagues found 85.1% were boys, 52.6% were adolescent, and 43.2% were black.
"Firearms represent a significant public health issue in the United States and rank second among causes of pediatric trauma-related injuries that result in significant morbidity and mortality," Weiss told Healio.com/OSN. “In our survey of the National Trauma Data Bank (2008-2014), we found that males, blacks and adolescents were disproportionately affected by ocular injuries from firearms. These injuries result in significant morbidity and mortality. Most are sight-threatening and associated with severe injury severity score and traumatic brain injury. Injury patterns vary depending on age, gender, location, injury intent and geographic region.”
Most of the injuries (41.6%) were open wounds of the eyeball, followed by orbital injury (30%) and open wound of ocular adnexa (25.5%). Frequency of traumatic brain injury was 55.3%, and mean injury severity score was 16, falling into the severe category, the poster said.
“The vast majority of children survive their injuries but sustain potentially lifelong disability that may impede future physical, academic and psychosocial development,” Weiss said. “Further investigation is warranted to help verify risk factors and develop focused intervention strategies to help improve public safety and reduce devastating vision loss and disability among children.” – by Patricia Nale, ELS
Reference:
Weiss RS, et al. Firearm-related pediatric ocular trauma: Analysis of patterns in the United States. Presented at: American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting; March 18-22, 2018; Washington.
Disclosure: Weiss reports no relevant financial disclosures.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify the public health impact of pediatric trauma-related injury caused by firearms.