Scleral Trauma

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Scleral Trauma - Wall Woes

  • Scleral injury: Blunt (rupture) or sharp (laceration, penetration, perforation).
  • Causes: Trauma (sports, RTA, assault), iatrogenic.
  • Rupture: Globe gives way at weakest points.
    • Common sites: Limbus, behind rectus muscle insertions, prior surgical scars.
    • Signs: ↓IOP (often < 5 mmHg), deep/shallow AC, uveal prolapse, hemorrhagic chemosis, bullous subconjunctival hemorrhage (360°), positive Seidel's test.
  • Laceration: Sharp object cuts sclera.
    • Partial or full thickness.
  • Diagnosis: Clinical exam, B-scan USG (if view obscured), CT scan (for IOFB).
  • Management: Surgical exploration & repair (primary closure), rule out/remove IOFB, systemic antibiotics.

Thinnest Sclera: 0.3 mm just posterior to rectus muscle insertions, making it a common site for traumatic rupture.

📌 Mnemonic (Rupture Sites): "Limp Really Slow" - Limbus, Rectus insertions, Scars.

Open Globe Injuries - Globe Gone Wild

Full-thickness scleral/corneal wound. Guarded prognosis.

BETT Classification (OGI):

FeatureDescription
TypeA: Rupture; B: Penetrating; C: IOFB; D: Perforating; E: Mixed
Grade (VA)1: ≥20/40; 2: 20/50-20/100; 3: 19/100-5/200; 4: 4/200-LP; 5: NLP
PupilP: +ve RAPD; N: -ve RAPD
ZoneI: Cornea/limbus; II: Limbus to 5mm post. sclera; III: >5mm post. limbus

Features & Management:

  • Signs: Peaked pupil, uveal prolapse, ↓IOP, +ve Seidel test, hemorrhagic chemosis.
  • Imaging: CT scan (NO MRI if metallic IOFB suspected).
  • Rx: Shield eye (NO patch). IV antibiotics. Tetanus toxoid. Antiemetics. Surgical repair ASAP.

Common scleral rupture sites (blunt trauma): Limbal (especially superonasal), under rectus muscle insertions, posterior (near optic nerve), and at sites of prior ocular surgery.

Clinical Clues & Imaging - Trauma Telltales

  • Symptoms: Severe pain, ↓ vision, photophobia.
  • Signs (Ocular Exam):
    • Marked conjunctival injection, chemosis, 360° subconjunctival hemorrhage.
    • Peaked pupil, uveal prolapse (dark knuckle).
    • Shallow/flat anterior chamber (AC).
    • IOP: Often low (< 5 mmHg), can be normal/high.
    • Positive Seidel's test (fluorescein stream).
    • Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect (RAPD).
  • Imaging:
    • B-scan USG: Essential for opaque media. Detects rupture, vitreous/retinal/choroidal detachment, IOFB.
    • CT Scan (Orbit): For IOFB (metallic), fractures. "Flat tire" sign.
    • UBM: Details anterior scleral/ciliary body injury.

Scleral trauma with iris prolapse

⭐ Seidel's test (fluorescein streaming) confirms aqueous leak, pathognomonic for open globe. RAPD indicates significant optic nerve/retinal damage, poor prognosis.

Scleral Repair & Recovery - Suture & Soothe

  • Surgical Repair Principles:
    • Goal: Watertight, anatomical closure.
    • Timing: Urgent, ideally within 24 hours.
    • Sutures: 8-0 to 10-0 Nylon (non-absorbable), interrupted.
    • Technique: Meticulous apposition, avoid uveal incarceration, explore thoroughly.
  • Post-operative Management ("Soothe"):
    • Topical: Broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g., Moxifloxacin), potent steroids (e.g., Prednisolone).
    • Systemic: Antibiotics for penetrating injuries or intraocular foreign body (IOFB) cases.
    • Cycloplegics (e.g., Atropine) for comfort, prevent synechiae.
    • Protective eye shield.
  • Key Complications:
    • Endophthalmitis, sympathetic ophthalmia, retinal detachment, phthisis bulbi.

⭐ Principles of scleral wound repair: Achieve watertight closure with meticulous apposition of wound edges, remove foreign bodies/necrotic tissue, and avoid incarceration of uveal tissue. Consider evisceration/enucleation for no light perception (NLP) with extensive damage or uncontrollable pain in a blind eye.

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High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Scleral rupture is a full-thickness scleral defect, often occult; maintain high suspicion post-trauma.
  • Common rupture sites: Limbus, under rectus muscle insertions, and the posterior pole.
  • Key signs: ↓VA, uveal/retinal prolapse, hemorrhagic chemosis, low IOP (can be variable).
  • Seidel's test (fluorescein streaming) confirms an active aqueous leak.
  • B-scan ultrasonography (USG) is vital for diagnosis, especially with opaque media or suspected posterior rupture.
  • Immediate surgical exploration and primary scleral repair are mandatory for open globe injuries.
  • Poor prognostic signs include Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect (RAPD), initial VA < Perception of Light (PL), and a large wound (>10mm).

Practice Questions: Scleral Trauma

Test your understanding with these related questions

A case of injury to right brow due to a fall from scooter presents with sudden loss of vision in the right eye. The pupil shows absent direct reflex but a normal consensual pupillary reflex is present. The fundus is normal. The treatment of choice is:

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Flashcards: Scleral Trauma

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Ciliary staphyloma occurs up to _____mm behind the limbus

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Ciliary staphyloma occurs up to _____mm behind the limbus

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