TY - JOUR
T1 - Post-traumatic bilateral blindness in a toddler
AU - Engelmann, E. W. M.
AU - Tinley, C.
AU - van As, A. B.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - A unique case of vision loss in a two-year-old boy after sustaining a head injury as a pedestrian versus car was seen at our paediatric trauma unit. A CT brain was negative for fracture, intra-cranial haemorrhage and contusion. There were no neurological symptoms and no signs of abuse. Ophthalmological examination demonstrated retinal haemorrhages, cotton wool spots and Purtscher flecken that are pathognomonic for the diagnosis of Purtscher's retinopathy. This occlusive microvasculopathy, associated with cranial and chest trauma, may cause severe blindness. In literature, bilaterality was described in almost two thirds of cases. Regardless of management with or without medication, visual function improved in the majority of cases. In our case, despite treatment with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, the child's vision remained poor with bilateral optic atrophy and retinal pigmentary changes. Children with Purtscher's retinopathy should be examined for signs of non-accidental injury.
AB - A unique case of vision loss in a two-year-old boy after sustaining a head injury as a pedestrian versus car was seen at our paediatric trauma unit. A CT brain was negative for fracture, intra-cranial haemorrhage and contusion. There were no neurological symptoms and no signs of abuse. Ophthalmological examination demonstrated retinal haemorrhages, cotton wool spots and Purtscher flecken that are pathognomonic for the diagnosis of Purtscher's retinopathy. This occlusive microvasculopathy, associated with cranial and chest trauma, may cause severe blindness. In literature, bilaterality was described in almost two thirds of cases. Regardless of management with or without medication, visual function improved in the majority of cases. In our case, despite treatment with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone, the child's vision remained poor with bilateral optic atrophy and retinal pigmentary changes. Children with Purtscher's retinopathy should be examined for signs of non-accidental injury.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85072854440&origin=inward
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2019.101292
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsc.2019.101292
M3 - Article
SN - 2213-5766
VL - 51
JO - Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports
JF - Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports
M1 - 101292
ER -