Orbital Complications of Acute Sinusitis: Evaluation, Management, and Results

Abstract

Objective: Even though acute rhinosinusitis orbital complications are not very common, they can appear as very severe complications with high mortality rates, due to infection spreading to orbital and intracranial tissues. The objective of this study is to assess the treatment and its results for patients treated in our clinic due to rhinosinusitis complications.Methods:Patients who were admitted to our clinic due to acute rhinosinusitis complications between January 2010 and March 2012 were examined. We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients 8 (73%) males and 3 (23%) females with a mean age 12.36 years (range 6-20 years)who were treated for orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis. Cases were evaluated according to age, sex, etiologic factors, localization, treatment, and outcome.Results: Preseptal cellulitis was observed in 9 patients (82%), orbital abscess was observed in 1 patient (9%), and subperiosteal abscess was observed in 1 patient (9%). Ten of 11 patients achieved full recovery through medical treatment, whereas 1 patient was treated with right subperiosteal abscess drainage and right functional endoscopic sinus surgery due to subperiosteal abscess. The patients’ average admission duration was 7 days.Conclusion: The orbita is the area with the most common sinusitis complications, due to its proximity to the paranasal sinuses and especially to ethmoid cells. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are important for the reduction of unwanted manifestations. Computed tomography with contrast remains the optimal imaging study for orbital inflammation. Surgical treatment is indicated when subperiosteal orbital abscess and orbital abscess are scenes.

Keywords

• acute rhinosinusitis
• orbital complications
• preseptal cellulitis
• orbital cellulitis
• subperiosteal abscess