Indications and Techniques of Pediatric Keratoplasty in Eastern China From 2008 to 2017.

PURPOSE

To explore the transition of indications and surgical techniques of pediatric keratoplasty in Eastern China in the past 10 years.

METHODS

Medical charts of 1026 pediatric patients (1059 eyes) who underwent keratoplasties at the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University from 2008 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The indications for keratoplasty and the surgical techniques were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 634 infants (≤3 years) (661 eyes), 207 toddlers and older children (4-12 years) (211 eyes), and 185 adolescents (13-18 years) (187 eyes) were included. The median age at the time of surgery was 2 years. The surgical indications were composed of congenital abnormalities (74.6%), acquired nontraumatic diseases (16.5%), acquired traumatic diseases (3.6%), and regraft (5.3%). Only congenital abnormality had a significant growing trend during this decade (P = 0.023). Keratoconus (67.2%) exceeded infectious keratitis (14.9%) and was the most common acquired nontraumatic cause in our study. The annual number of pediatric keratoplasties increased significantly from 40 cases in 2008 to 190 cases in 2017 (P < 0.001). Although penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 414 eyes (39.1%), its application in the treatment of keratoconus decreased significantly during this decade (P = 0.04). By contrast, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty showed an increasing trend because of its popularization in the treatment of keratoconus (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Congenital abnormalities have replaced infectious keratitis and have been the leading indications of pediatric keratoplasty in the past 10 years. Although the using of penetrating keratoplasty was still the predominant procedure to treat pediatric corneal pathologies, the adoption of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty showed a significant increasing trend during the past decade.