TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Characteristics and outcomes of open globe trauma in the urban versus rural population: a single center retrospective review JO - Seminars in ophthalmology A1 - Fu, Roxana A1 - Kancherla, Swarupa A1 - Eller, Andrew W. A1 - Yu, Jenny Y. SP - 566 EP - 570 VL - 33 IS - 4 N2 - PURPOSE: To examine the characteristics and outcomes of open globe injuries sustained by the urban population compared to the rural population.

METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of 429 patients presenting to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Hospital with traumatic open globes from July 2005 to July 2013.

RESULTS: Rural patients had a longer time which elapsed from injury to presentation (P = 0.023, average 12.04 hours vs 7.53 hours). There was a higher incidence of patient transfer prior to arrival to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital (P = 0.018), patient follow-up elsewhere (P = 0.049), and patients sustaining intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS: Health care access is a well-known problem in rural areas and using rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes can help identify a population for risk factors or potential disparities in care. Rural patients sustained a higher rate of IOFBs; this should heighten the clinicians' suspicion during the evaluation of an open globe in other rural populations.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0882-0538 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08820538.2017.1340488 ID - ref1 ER -