Orbital complications of rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Introduction: Orbital complications were observed in 53 patients (1.35%, n=53/3912 of all treated patients; 11.04% , n= 53/480 of hospitalized patients). Complications in the orbit can occur in 3 - 5% of adults with the inflammatory condition of sinuses, while the percentage in children ranges from 0.5 - 8%. Objective: The objective of our work was to determine the frequency of the occurrence of orbital complications of the rhinosinal inflammatory origin in a group of adults and children. Method: The retrospective analysis of patients treated of rhinosinusitis in the period 1992 to 2007, in the Clinical Center in Kragujevac. Results: In the period of 15 years, a total number of 3912 patients were treated for inflammatory conditions of paranasal cavities. Orbital complications were found in 53 patients (1.35%, n=53/3912 of all treated patients). The number of children showing orbital complications caused by rhinosinusitis was 0.79%, while the number of adults was 1,88%. Acute rhinosinusitis in children was manifested as orbital complication in 14 patients (n=14/15, 93.33%), while 33 adults (n=33/38, 86.84%) had the exarcerbation of the chronic rhinosinusitis at the time of diagnosis of orbital complication. 80% of examined children had the maxillary and ethmoid sinus infected (n=12/15), while the adults most often had polysinusitis (n=22/38, 57.89%). In the juvenile age the most frequent complication was the cellulitis of the orbite (n=7/15 , 46.66%), while in the adults it was the subperiostal absces (n=14/38, 36.84%). The adults were mostly treated surgically (n=31/38, 81.58%), while the children were treated by using conservative treatment (n=13/15, 86.67%). There were no cases of mortality. Conclusion: The prevention of complications is based on the adequate and timely treatment of acute sinusitis in children, as well as the curative treatment of chronical processes in adults.