Prophylactic chorioretinectomy for eye injuries with high proliferative‐vitreoretinopathy risk

With its incidence exceeding 60%, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains the most important pathology responsible for loss of vision, even the eyeball, after certain types of severe trauma. In this article, we present results obtained using our novel surgical technique, prophylactic chorioretinectomy (PCR), to prevent the development of PVR. Data on severely injured eyes at high risk for PVR [rupture, posterior laceration, deep‐impact intraocular foreign body (IOFB) trauma, perforating injury] were collected prospectively. All eyes underwent vitrectomy (PPV) by PCR within 100 hr of the trauma. Eyes were excluded if they presented with endophthalmitis or if the reconstructive surgery was performed outside this time frame. Forty eyes of 40 consecutive patients were analyzed; full follow‐up information was obtained for all of them. The injury was rupture in 27%, penetrating in 15%, (deep‐impact) IOFB in 35%, and perforating in 23%. PPV‐PCR was performed during primary (wound closure) surgery in 59% of cases. All eyes had at least minimal vitreous hemorrhage, and none had a true posterior vitreous detachment. At the time of PPV, 30% of the eyes had a retinal detachment. Sixteen percent developed PVR, but none from the site of the PCR procedure. In 20%, silicone oil remained in the eye at the last follow‐up. The visual acuity improved in 93% of eyes and worsened in none; the improvement was mostly due to surgical clearing of the media opacity. In this subgroup of eyes with severe open‐globe trauma, over 60% are expected to develop PVR. PPV/PCR performed within 100 hr reduced the PVR risk significantly, so currently it remains the best option for the surgeon. Clin. Anat. 31:28–38, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.