Orbital Complications of Rhinosinusitis: Characteristics in Pediatric Patients

Kim, Yong Jae; Min, Yang Gi

Abstract

To evaluate the differences in clinical features of rhinosinogenic orbital complications between the pediatric and adult groups, a multicenter survey was made on 79 cases of rhinogenic orbital complications (from January 1985 through October 1999). The patients ranged in age between 8 months and 79 years with a mean of 28 years. Thirty-five patients were under 15 years of age (pediatric group), and 44 patients were over 15 years of age (adult group). Twenty-three of 35 pediatric patients (65.7%) had postseptal orbital inflammation, whereas 30 of 44 adult patients (68.2%) had postseptal orbital inflammation. The pediatric group had shorter symptom duration than the adult group. Pediatric OCRS also developed as various forms-inflammatory edema, orbital cellulitis, orbital abscess and subperiosteal abscess. Sixteen of 35 pediatric patients (45.7%) underwent surgical interventions. The cure rate by surgical interventions in the pediatric group (14/16, 87.4%) was higher than that in the adult group (21/26, 80.8%). The cure rate by medical treatment in the pediatric group (18/19, 94.7%) was also higher than that in the adult group (11/16, 68.7%).