Unilateral ischemic retinopathy following traumatic intubation mimicking retinopathy of prematurity in a preterm newborn.

A preterm child, born at 24 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA), suffered a traumatic nasotracheal intubation at birth, with exteriorization of the tube through the right orbit. Delayed routine screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at 34 weeks' PMA revealed a right ischemic retinopathy. Right eye fundus examination at 39 weeks' PMA showed a neovascularized ridge delimiting the vascular retina from an avascular zone over 360°, with localized fibrosis and traction in the right eye, mimicking a zone II stage 3-4 ROP. The left fundus was normal. We suggest that the traumatic ocular contusion stunned the physiological vascularization process of the premature eye leading to permanent retinal sequalae.