Título

IMPORTANCE OF COMPLEMENTARY IMAGEING TESTS IN PERFORATING OCULAR TRAUMA.

Introdução / Purpose

Present a case of ocular trauma evolving a brush cutter and discuss about the importance of imageing tests in Emergency.

Material e Método / Methods

A case of a patient referenced due to open ocular trauma is presented including the clinical findings, ocular ultrasonography and plain radiography showing the metallic intra-ocular foreign body. The clinical findings during the follow up are documented over the days and show the good results in early approach of these types of wounds followed by late intraocular lens implantation.

Resultados / Results

Traumatic injury to the eye accounts 3% of all visits in emergency Department and 40% of monocular blindness is associated with Trauma.
Brazilian Epidemiological Database is precarious but it is estimated an annual worldwide incidence of 200.000 cases of this type of trauma. 90% occur in young men between 20-40 years old; about 40% of ocular violations are associated with metallic or wood intraocular retention and less commonly glass and plastic. 75% are associated with permanent visual impairment.
All that fact explains the necessity of rapid and accurate emergency assessment of orbit and globe injury. Common modalities of imaging include Radiography, Ultrasound (US), Computed Tomography(CT) and Magnetic Resonance(MR); all of them can play an important role in the emergency evaluation.

Discussão e Conclusões / Discussion

The greater incidence rate in young males in working age demonstrates the socioeconomic importance of a best practice pattern in open ocular trauma due to temporary or permanent visual impairment. Every patient diagnosed with open ocular trauma must be investigated about the presence of intraocular foreign body, as it increases the morbidity of the trauma. Because of its higher sensitivity, CT is recommended as a primary imaging modality helping perform a careful evaluation of the orbit and its contents, however in today’s setting, ultrasonography and plain film x-ray has a documentary and medico-legal role and also in our country due to paucity of sophisticated equipment, it has a role.

Palavras Chave

Ocular trauma, Imageing Tests