[Ocular contusions at the Cotonou, Benin, National University Hospital. A series of 654 cases]

Aim: To specify the epidemiologic characteristics of ocular contusions, take an inventory of etiological factors, and study clinical aspects.

Patients and methods: This study was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study. We carried out an exhaustive recruitment among the consultations in the ophthalmologic department at the Cotonou National University Hospital from 1st January 2006 to 30 April 2009 of all the patients with the ocular diagnosis of contusion.

Results: Of 21,892 consultations, 654 cases were ocular contusions, i.e., a total prevalence of 3%. The prevalence among ocular injuries was 70.8%. The majority of the patients were between 16 and 45 years old (74.9%) and the mean age was 31.2±3.5 years. A clear male prevalence was observed (79.7%). The principal cause was road traffic accidents (58.6%). The lesions most frequently encountered were in the conjunctiva (64.9%) and eyelids (24.5%). Lesions of the anterior segment were infrequent (9.1%) and those of the posterior segment were rare (1.5%).

Conclusion: Ocular contusions account for a large part of ocular injuries in the ophthalmologic department of Cotonou National University Hospital and result above all from road traffic accidents. It is important to reduce the frequency in taking essentially preventive measures.