Pediatric ocular trauma score as a prognostic tool in the management of pediatric traumatic cataracts.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce and validate the pediatric ocular trauma score (POTS) - a mathematical model to predict visual outcome trauma in children with traumatic cataract METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, medical records of consecutive children with traumatic cataracts aged 18 and below were retrieved and analysed. Data collected included age, gender, visual acuity, anterior segment and posterior segment findings, nature of surgery, treatment for amblyopia, follow-up, and final outcome was recorded on a precoded data information sheet. POTS was derived based on the ocular trauma score (OTS), adjusting for age of patient and location of the injury. Visual outcome was predicted using the OTS and the POTS and using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS: POTS predicted outcomes were more accurate compared to that of OTS (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION: POTS is a more sensitive and specific score with more accurate predicted outcomes compared to OTS, and is a viable tool to predict visual outcomes of pediatric ocular trauma with traumatic cataract.