Childhood Traumatic Cataract in Nigeria; A Multicenter Study: 2017-2021

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To determine the frequency, demography, etiology and mechanisms of ocular injuries associated with childhood traumatic cataract in Nigeria Methods: A retrospective multicenter study conducted across ten child eye health tertiary facilities in Nigeria between January 2017 and December 2021. Clinic records of all children aged 0-17 years who had been diagnosed with cataract at the various participating centers were reviewed. Information collected include: biodata, mechanism of injury; laterality, place of injury; object responsible; person responsible; duration before presentation and surgical intervention. Results: A total of 636 out of 1656 children (38.4%) had traumatic cataracts during the study period. Their mean age was 109.4 ± 45.2 months with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Most injuries were unilateral, two (0.3%) children had bilateral involvement. Only 78(15.3%) children presented within 4 weeks of the injury. Closed globe injuries were responsible for the traumatic cataract in 475(74.7%) children, while open globe injuries were more likely to present within 24 hours (P <0.001). The commonest objects of injury were cane, sticks, plant, wood and play materials. Self-inflicted injuries occurred in about 82(13%) children while 407(64.0%) were caused by close relatives and contacts. The location where trauma occurred was home in 375(59.8%) and school in 107(16.8%) children. Conclusion: This multicenter study demonstrates that more than one-third of all childhood cataracts in Nigeria are trauma-related and majority are due to closed globe injuries. Public health interventions to reduce the occurrence of ocular trauma and to encourage early presentation after trauma are advocated.