Firecracker injuries lead to 13 surgeries in Bengaluru hospitals

Bengaluru: At least 13 people who sustained eye injuries due to the bursting of firecrackers have undergone surgeries in the city this Deepavali season.

Minto Hospital reported four surgical interventions from 49 cases, Sankara Eye Hospital five from 18, and Narayana Nethralaya four from 73.

Among the patients with firecracker injuries at Minto Hospital, 32 were children. Fourteen patients were admitted as inpatients from Oct 28 till Sunday noon. Of the inpatients, four needed surgeries and 10 were put on conservative treatment. Most of the injuries were self-inflicted (27) compared to bystanders (22). While most of the cases that came to the hospital were simple (26), 23 people had grievous injuries. The largest number of cases came in from Bijli (12) injuries.

At Sankara Eye Hospital, five of the 18 patients required surgeries. Fourteen of the injured were children, whereas 15 were bystanders. "The youngest was a 3-year-old girl and the eldest was a 14-year-old boy. Out of the four adults, a 52-year-old person has a critical injury, and the rest of the injuries have been treated. Eye specialists on duty have stated that for all the cases, first aid has been provided, and they will be coming for a follow-up this week. We will get clarity if any of them have lost eyesight after examining them once they are back," stated the hospital.

Narayana Nethralaya had four patients needing surgical interventions out of the 73 cases it attended from Oct 31 to Nov 3 evening. Thirty-five of the injured were children and nine of them suffered serious wounds, such as corneal tears, haemorrhages, retinal detachments, and lens dislocations.

Dr Rohit Shetty, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, stated, "Many of these injuries could have been prevented with simple safety measures. Wearing protective eyewear and maintaining a safe distance can make all the difference."