Optic nerve injury in children. A prospective study of 35 patients.

Thirty-five children under 15 years of age with optic nerve injury are prospectively studies for their clinical presentation, radiological findings, visual evoked potentials and outcome. Over 50% were under 10 years of age. In half of the children, injury was due to fall from a height. Fracture of the skull was recorded in a third of the patients, and optic canal fracture was seen only in three children. Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) were record in 30 children and were repeated several times in first three weeks. All the patients received corticosteroids and optic canal decompression was not carried out routinely. Overall spontaneous visual recovery was observed in 12 patients. Among the 30 children in whom Veps were recorded, 17 children had repeatedly absent VEP, and none of the children showed wave formation, 10 (77%) had visual recovery. Only in 5 patients an optic canal decompression was carried out several weeks after injury. This study brings out the role of VEP in children with optic nerve injury.