Prehospital Treatment of Pediatric Eye Injuries in a Multiagency Emergency Medical Services Registry

PURPOSE: Pediatric eye injuries represent a significant public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the patterns of isolated pediatric eye injuries in the United States managed by emergency medical services (EMS), focusing on cases in which eye injury was the primary clinical concern, and to determine the factors linked to increased injury severity. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) was conducted, focusing on pediatric eye injuries between 2021 and 2023. Pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger were included if they were evaluated and transported by EMS and had a provider's primary impression indicating an eye injury based on specific ICD-10 codes, with complete data available on initial and final acuity and other study variables. RESULTS: Data from 920 cases were analyzed, examining injury types, severity, and EMS interventions. Foreign body injuries were most common. Higher acuity cases, such as open wounds and nerve injuries, often require EMS-performed procedures. Male patients and older children were more likely to sustain severe injuries. The findings demonstrated variation in prehospital procedure use across injury types and acuity levels. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in prehospital procedure use across injury types and acuity levels suggests a potential role for standardized EMS protocols to promote more consistent prehospital management.