Pars-plana vitrectomy combined with retinectomy in severe open-globe injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: This review summarized prophylactic retinectomy technique and its effect on anatomic and functional outcomes in severe open globe injuries (OGIs). Methods: A comprehensive search in PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Scopus, and EuropePMC databases was performed up until 8 January 2020. Enrolled studies include case series, studies involving pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with retinectomy in severe penetrating injuries with or without IOFB, perforating injuries, and globe ruptures. Primary outcome was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ⩾20/200 at the end of the study. Secondary outcomes were the rate of proliferative retinopathy (PVR), globe survival rate and retinal reattachment rate. Results: A total of seven studies, involving 275 eyes with severe OGIs, is included in this study. Meta-analysis indicates that final BCVA ⩾20/200 was achieved in 61% (95% CI 49%–73%). Meta-regression analysis showed that improvement was inversely affected by the presence of pre-operative direct macular injury (p = 0.001) and corneal scar (p = 0.015). The proportion of pre-operative BCVA <20/200 was statistically insignificant to the final BCVA ⩾20/200 (p = 0.569). One study showed that the rate is higher in the retinectomy group than the non-retinectomy group (54% vs 11%). Meta-analysis showed that anatomical success can be achieved in 85% (95% CI 78%–91%) of the patients. Meta-regression analysis indicates that the anatomical success did not vary with age (p = 0.653), retinal detachment (p = 0.525), corneal scar (p = 0.596), and lens involvement (p = 0.450). Conclusion: Early PPV combined with retinectomy was associated with acceptable visual improvement and anatomical success.