A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Pediatric Open Globe Injuries in Türkiye

OBJECTIVES: To do a meta-analysis of pediatric open globe injuries (OGI) presented from Türkiye for the 5 years up to June 2023.
METHODS: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Statement and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology criteria. We included studies that analyzed individuals younger than 18 years without age and follow-up period restrictions. We performed random-effects model estimates for the meta-analysis of the relevant studies. We evaluated the heterogeneity with the inconsistency index I2 and the Q-test.
RESULTS: The average age of child injuries was 7.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.9–8.5) years. While the injury rate in boys was 66.8% (95% CI: 61.8–71.4), it was observed as 33.2% (95% CI: 28.6–38.2) in girls. Home injuries were the highest with 46.9% (95% CI: 22.4–73.1). Sharp-pointed object traumas were the most common, accounting for 71.9% (95% CI: 58.3–82.4). When the trauma zone distribution was examined, it was determined as zone 1 with the highest rate of 63.8% (95% CI: 60.1–67.3). Zone 2 and zone 3 have been observed with decreasing frequency (25.4% and 105%, respectively). The overall effect size of boys was positive in the group whose final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was no light perception (β: 1.1657; p=0.0039). For patients with a final BCVA <0.1, Trauma Zone 1 (β: −0.0054; p=0.0410) and Zone 2 (β: −0.0034; p=0.0211) were found to have a negative overall effect size.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: OGI is one of the important health problems. We think that standardized research will contribute to the enlightenment of this issue.