| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2011 | Volume
: 18
| Issue : 2 | Page : 170-172 |
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Enucleation and evisceration in the Palestinian territories
Tiarnan D.L Keenan1, Nicholas J Sargent2
1 University of Manchester and the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom;St. John Eye Hospital, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territories
2 St. John Eye Hospital, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territories
Correspondence Address:
Tiarnan D.L Keenan
AV Hill Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
 Source of Support: Daniel Turnberg United Kingdom / Middle East Travel
Fellowship Scheme (TK), Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-9233.80708
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Purpose : To examine the demographics and indications in patients undergoing eye removal at St. John Eye Hospital (SJEH) in Jerusalem, the largest single provider of ophthalmic care in the Palestinian Territories.
Materials and Methods : In this retrospective study, medical records were reviewed for patients undergoing enucleation or evisceration at SJEH from November 2004 to March 2007. Calculation of percentage, mean and median was performed for the demographics, and indications for enucleation and evisceration.
Results : Thirty-three eyes of 32 patients were removed during the period under study. Twelve enucleations and 21 eviscerations were performed. Mean age was 39 years, and 19 patients were male. Indications included severe trauma (8 eyes), painful blind eye with (5 eyes) or without (9 eyes) infection, and ophthalmic neoplasm (3 eyes).
Conclusion : The incidence of surgical eye removal at SJEH from 2004 to 2007 was around one patient per month for a population over three million. This rate appears far lower than those reported in previous studies of similar Palestinian populations. Prompt access to medical care for Palestinians is required to mitigate ophthalmic morbidity. Approximately half of the cases were caused by severe trauma or infection, with rubber bullet injuries responsible for 20% of the traumatic cases. |
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