Clinical presentation and outcome of chorioretinitis sclopetaria: A case series study Mehdi Nili Ahmadabadi, Reza Karkhaneh, Ramak Roohipoor *, Ali Tabatabai, Azam Alimardani Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Qazvin Square, 1336616351 Tehran, Iran Introduction Chorioretinitis sclopetaria is a rare clinical presentation resulting from trauma caused by a high-velocity projectile object passing adjacent to or through the orbit without penetrating the globe. This injury causes a full-thickness chorioretinal defect and visual loss. 5 The term sclopetaria may come from two different origins, the verb sclow – an old English variant of sclaw or claw, which means to scratch, pull or tear; therefore sclopetaria is scratching or clawing at the globe – or the Latin word sclopetum, which denotes a Roman long weapon. The term chorioretinitis would refer to the post-traumatic inflammation. 1,3,4 Chorioretinitis sclopetaria refers to a simultaneous break in the retina and choroid resulting from a high-velocity missile passing adjacent to coming into contact with the globe, entering the orbit without causing a scleral rupture. Simultaneous retraction of the choroids and retina at the site of the break reveals bare sclera. 12 Two mechanisms have been considered here: damage adjacent to the pathway of the missile is responsible for the direct injury, and the indirect injury is caused by the shock waves transmitted to the globe. 5 These patients have a low chance of retinal detachment, which is the result of full-thickness chorioretinal dehiscence, followed by marked fibrovascular proliferation and scar formation. 1 In this case series study we present 13 cases of chorioretinitis sclopetaria and we assess their clinical presentations and the treatment modalities. Methods We conducted a case series study on 13 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of chorioretinitis sclopetaria from May 2000 to 2006. The study was approved by the hospital review board committee. All patients underwent clinical examination, including best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, appla- nation tonometry, and funduscopy and fundus photography, at baseline and during follow-up period. All patients were followed up at week 4, months 2 and 6 and then every 6 months. Injury, Int. J. Care Injured 41 (2010) 82–85 ARTICLE INFO Article history: Accepted 24 February 2009 Keywords: Chorioretinitis Sclopetaria Outcome ABSTRACT Purpose: To report the clinical presentation, treatment approach and natural course of a series of chorioretinitis sclopetaria patients. Methods: Thirteen consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of chorioretinitis sclopetaria were included in a case series study during 2000–2006. All patients underwent clinical examination, including the best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, funduscopy and fundus photography. Three-port standard vitrectomy was performed in two patients due to dense vitreous haemorrhage and suspected retinal detachment in both cases. All patients were followed up at week 4, months 2 and 6 and then every 6 months. Results: The mean age of the patients was 16  6 (range: 5–27) years and 11 patients (84.6%) were male. The mean follow-up period was 37  18 (range: 17–82) months. Baseline best-corrected visual acuity ranged from no light perception (NLP) to 20/1600, and final visual acuity range was from NLP to 20/1200. Only one patient developed acute retinal detachment, and the retina remained attached in others through follow-up. Conclusion: In spite of severe retinal and choroidal injuries in chorioretinitis sclopetaria, retinal detachment does not usually occur, probably due to spontaneous retinopexy and scar formation. Whilst dealing with chorioretinitis sclopetaria, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis to prevent unwarranted surgical intervention. ß 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +98 21 55421006/912 5363461; fax: +98 21 55416134. E-mail addresses: roohipoor@sina.tums.ac.ir, hbenvidi@razi.tums.ac.ir (R. Roohipoor). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Injury journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/injury 0020–1383/$ – see front matter ß 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.02.016