To evaluate the effect of perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene on the outcome of traumatic retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, a retrospective study of 111 patients was performed at 35 tertiary care centers, both private practice and institutional. We believed that perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene would assist in manipulating the retina during surgery, removing intraocular foreign bodies, draining suprachoroidal hemorrhage, and reattaching the retina because of the perfluorocarbon's high specific gravity.Of the 700 patients in the Vitreo study group, 111 with a history of trauma (109 had retinal detachment, 50 had proliferative vitreoretinopathy) were chosen for this study. Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene was used intraoperatively to manipulate the retina hydrokinetically, remove intraocular foreign bodies, drain suprachoroidal hemorrhage, and to reattach the retina in the case of giant tears.Logistic multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors as being predictive of poor visual outcome. Factors predictive of poor visual outcome were: type of trauma (p = 0.0065) (ruptured globe); presence of giant retinal tear (p = 0.0253); and low preoperative visual acuity (p = 0.044). At the last follow-up examination, the reattachment rate was 75.6% (i.e., 84 eyes). Of those 84 eyes, 55 (49.5%) had achieved a visual acuity of > or = 5/200 and 34 (30.6%) had a visual acuity of > or = 20/200. In cases complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy, the final reattachment rate was 66%, with 40% of the eyes studied obtaining a visual acuity of > or = 5/200.Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene has been used intraoperatively in the management of traumatic retinal detachments without any apparent ill effects.