Molten metal-related ocular thermal burn: report on two cases

ARICI C., Iskeleli G., ATALAY E., Mangan M. S., Kilic B.

ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE OFTALMOLOGIA, cilt.78, sa.6, ss.379-381, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 78 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2015
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5935/0004-2749.20150100
  • Dergi Adı: ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE OFTALMOLOGIA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.379-381
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Amniotic membrane/transplantation, Burns chemical, Eye burns, Metals, heavy, Eye infections, bacterial, Humans, AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE TRANSPLANTATION, SURFACE RECONSTRUCTION, INJURIES
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

We report two cases of severe thermal burns on the ocular surface and its adnexal appendages that developed secondary to exposure to molten heavy metal with a melting temperature of near-thousand degree Celsius. Despite aggressive intervention and strict monitoring, the profound inflammation caused significant damage to the ocular surface, ending up in an intractable infection with an unfavorable outcome. The heat of the molten metal at impact, the heat-retaining capacity of the heavy metal, the total area of the ocular surface exposed to the molten metal, and the duration of exposure determined the severity of the injury. The unfavorable outcome, despite an intensive treatment, in terms of visual acuity and cosmetic appearance, should be explicitly explained to the patient, and a psychiatrist consultation should be considered if necessary.