DOI: 10.31832/smj.1846069 ISSN: 2146-409X

Observations on Traumatic Wound Dehiscence Following Corneal Transplantation

Erel İçel, Bora Yüksel, Mehmet Han Lale, Tuncay Küsbeci, İpek Çıkmazkara
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Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of traumatic wound dehiscence after penetrating keratoplasty and to evaluate the associated visual, anatomical, and graft-related outcomes.Methods: Cases of wound dehiscence following penetrating keratoplasty, treated from 2012 to 2025, were evaluated retrospectively. Data were extracted from the medical records of 33 patients, identified among 1632 patients who had previously undergone penetrating keratoplasty. Patient records were examined to determine the type and timing of the injury, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and clinical outcomes.Results: Across 1632 keratoplasties, 33 traumatic dehiscence events were recorded (2.0%). A total of 33 patients, including 9 females (27.3%) and 24 males (72.7%), with a mean age of 57.03 ± 17.43 years (range: 24–89), were included in the analysis. The most common indication for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), accounting for 33.3% of cases. In the present study, the median time from keratoplasty to traumatic wound dehiscence was 29 months (range: 4–177 months). At the final follow-up, the mean CDVA was 2.02±0.7 LogMAR (range: 0.22–3.0).Conclusions: Traumatic wound dehiscence is a lifelong risk after penetrating keratoplasty due to persistent wound fragility. Even minor trauma can cause severe vision loss years post-surgery. Early treatment improves outcomes, highlighting the importance of patient education and protective eyewear use.

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