To determine the demographic profile, clinical features and surgical outcomes of giant retinal tear (GRT) related retinal detachments (RD) in children.
In this retrospective study, medical records of children aged 14 years and below, who underwent surgery for RD at our centre in the last 5 years were reviewed. Among these, we selected medical records of children with RDs with GRT, and examined the coloured retinal drawings, ultrawidefield photographs and/or surgical videos.
Out of 1536 medical records, 91 eyes of 87 children (5.6% of all RDs) were included. Mean age was 10.21 ± 3.08 years with male:female ratio of 8.6:1. The most common aetiologies for GRTs were high myopia (28 cases-32.18%) and trauma (25 cases-28.73%). Bilateral RD were possibly present in 29/87 (33.3%) cases. Six months follow up data was available for 82/91 eyes. Overall retinal re-attachment was achieved in 52/82 (63.41%) eyes; in 33/82 (40.24%) eyes retinal attachment could be achieved by a single surgery. Absence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (OR: 2.44, p-value:0.03, 95%CI: 1.21-5.08) or PVR-A (OR: 3.62, p-value: 0.03, 95%CI: 1.52-12.26) and presence of preexisting posterior vitreous detachment (OR: 7.14, p-value: 0.02, 95%CI: 1.31-38.73) were associated with successful retinal re-attachment after single surgery. Median time to presentation of cases succeeding after 1 surgery was 10 days. Ambulatory vision (1/60 and better) at final followup could be achieved in 45/82 (54.88%) eyes.
GRT relatedRDs constitute a significant proportion of paediatric RDs. Anatomical success can currently be achieved in a large number of cases. Early surgery, absence of PVR and presence of PVD are associated with higher surgical success.

Author