risk factors of post-traumatic endophthalmitis

purpose: to evaluate cases of post-traumatic endophthalmitis in terms of risk factors. method: this chart review was performed on 67 eyes of 67 patients who were admitted to shiraz khalili hospital with a clinical impression of post-traumatic endophthalmitis following penetrating eye trauma from 2002 to 2004 serving as the case group. sixty-five patients with penetrating eye trauma but not endophthalmitis were selected as controls. results: the case group included 52 (78%) male and 15 (22%) female subjects with mean age of 26.0±9.3 years, of which 33 (49%) were rural residents. the control group included 47 (72%) male and 18 (28%) female subjects with mean age of 24.0±11.2 years, of which 14 (21.5%) were from rural areas. delayed repair (later than 24 hours) was seen in 44 (66%) of cases and 7 (11%) of controls (p= 0.0005). intraocular foreign body was found in 9 cases (13%) and 10 controls (15%) (p= 0.46). lens rupture was found in 38 cases (57%) and 3 controls (5%) (p= 0.0005). the cornea was only involved in 30 cases (45%) and 45 controls (69%). scleral involvement was seen in 37 cases (55%) vs 20 controls (31%) (p=0.012). conclusion: lens rupture, delayed primary repair and rural area as well as limbal and scleral involvement were associated with a higher rate of endophthalmitis. however, intraocular foreign body, age and sex had no role in predisposing to endophthalmitis.