[Orbital infections in children: clinical signs, imaging, and treatment]

High risk and low prevalence diseases: Orbital cellulitis

INTRODUCTION

Orbital cellulitis is an uncommon but serious condition that carries with it a potential for significant morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

This review highlights the pearls and pitfalls of orbital cellulitis, including presentation, diagnosis, and management in the emergency department (ED) based on current evidence.

DISCUSSION

Orbital cellulitis refers to infection of the globe and surrounding soft tissues posterior to the orbital septum. Orbital cellulitis is typically caused by local spread from sinusitis but can also be caused by local trauma or dental infection. It is more common in pediatric patients compared to adults. Emergency clinicians should first assess for and manage other critical, sight-threatening complications such as orbital compartment syndrome (OCS). Following this assessment, a focused eye examination is necessary. Though orbital cellulitis is primarily a clinical diagnosis, computed tomography (CT) of the brain and orbits with and without contrast is critical for evaluation of complications such as abscess or intracranial extension. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and orbits with and without contrast should be performed in cases of suspected orbital cellulitis in which CT is non-diagnostic. While point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) may be useful in differentiating preseptal from orbital cellulitis, it cannot exclude intracranial extension of infection. Management includes early administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics and ophthalmology consultation. The use of steroids is controversial. In cases of intracranial extension of infection (e.g., cavernous sinus thrombosis, abscess, or meningitis), neurosurgery should be consulted.

CONCLUSION

An understanding of orbital cellulitis can assist emergency clinicians in diagnosing and managing this sight-threatening infectious process.

Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis related to Orbital Cellulitis Serious Complication to Prevent: a case report and literature review

Introduction

The authors report a case which aims to underline the importance of multidisciplinary management and rapid diagnosis of orbital cellulitis, for an adequate treatment of ocular damages and related complications, to prevent serious and permanent sequelae and avoid a fatal prognosis.

Presentation of case

A 61-year-old female reported to the oral and maxillofacial surgery department after she was dragged around for two months. She presented with a right facial swelling and orbital apex syndrome including proptosis, ophthalmoplegia and ptosis.

Discussion

Complications of orbital cellulitis may be limited to the orbit, such as subperiosteal or orbital abscess, optic neuritis, blindness, or intracranial such as meningitis, sinus cavernous thrombosis, cerebral abscess and even death.

Conclusion

Maxillofacial surgeons must be aware of this complication in a multidisciplinary context to adopt adequate treatment as soon as possible.

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Orbital cellulitis is a rare ophthalmic disease due to pansinusitis with hard maxillofacial management.

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Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a rare but highly fatal complication of orbital cellulitis.

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Early and appropriate treatment can improve the bad prognosis of this condition and avoid visual sequelae.

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Maxillofacial surgeons must be aware of this complication in a multidisciplinary context to adopt adequate treatment as soon as possible.

[Orbital cellulitis in children: Report of 60 cases]

The goal of this study was to describe the epidemiological, etiological, clinical and therapeutic features and clinical course of orbital cellulitis in children, and to assess the risk factors for retroseptal involvement.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study including 60 children (67 eyes) diagnosed with orbital cellulitis. Two groups were defined according to the clinical form: pre- or retroseptal.

RESULTS

We studied 29 cases (34 eyes) of preseptal cellulitis and 31 cases (33 eyes) of retroseptal cellulitis. The mean age was 4 years. The male: female ratio was 1.3. The prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics prior to hospitalization was noted in respectively four and 10 patients. Eyelid edema was the principal sign (100% of cases); exophthalmia was noted in 19 eyes, ptosis in 27 eyes and chemosis in 10 eyes. Oculomotor disorders were present in 4 eyes. The mean C-reactive protein level was 53.15±27mg/l in preseptal cellulitis and 92.09±21mg/l in the retro-septal cases. Orbital computed tomography was performed in 31 patients and MRI in 5 patients. The pathway of entry of the orbital infection was primarily from the sinuses (23 cases). All of our patients had received broad spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy. Three children had a cavernous sinus thrombosis and had been treated with anticoagulant therapy. Surgical drainage was performed in five patients. The course was favorable and without sequelae for all the patients. Two independent risk factors for retroseptal involvement were identified: the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs prior to hospitalization, and sinus involvement.

CONCLUSION

Orbital cellulitis in children is a serious infection and requires close collaboration between the ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, and pediatrician in order to be diagnosed and treated early so as to improve the prognosis for vision and life.

[Imaging of orbital cellulitis in children: about 56 cases]

Les cellulites orbitaires de l'enfant sont rares mais potentiellement graves, le diagnostic est principalement basé sur l'examen clinique et l'imagerie (tomodensitométrie ou IRM). Le but de ce travail est d'illustrer le rôle de l'imagerie, essentiellement la TDM, dans le diagnostic et la prise en charge de cette pathologie. Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective portant sur 56 cas de cellulite orbitaire, colligés durant six années au service de radiologie de l'hôpital mère-enfant du CHU Mohammed VI de Marrakech (de janvier 2011 à octobre 2017), explorés par TDM crânio-orbitaire. L'âge moyen des patients était de 5 ans, avec une légère prédominance féminine. La porte d'entrée était dominée par l'atteinte sinusienne retrouvée chez 22malades. L'analyse des résultats tomodensitométriques a noté 37 cas de cellulite préseptale (66%), 3 cas de cellulite rétroseptale isolée (5%), 16 cas de cellulite mixte (28%), 8 cas d'exophtalmie (14%) et 4 cas d'abcès sous-périosté (7%). Les cellulites orbitaires de l'enfant sont des infections graves, entravant le pronostic vital à court terme et le pronostic fonctionnel visuel à moyen et long terme, le diagnostic positif est clinique. L'imagerie joue un rôle important dans le diagnostic topographique et étiologique, ainsi que pour guider le traitement.

[Orbital cellulitis complicating acute pansinusitis: report of a case]

Les cellulites orbitaires sont des affections peu fréquentes. Ces infections peuvent être secondaire à une infection oculaire, péri oculaire ou à une septicémie. L'origine sinusienne reste la plus fréquente. Le risque de graves complications mettant en jeu le pronostic fonctionnel et vital nécessite un diagnostic rapide et une prise en charge précoce. Nous rapportons le cas clinique d'une femme de 70 ans connue diabétique, qui a présenté une cellulite orbitaire secondaire à une pansinusite négligée. Le traitement était à la fois médical et chirurgical: antibiothérapie et drainage. L’évolution a été favorable au bout du septième jour. Nous essayons à travers ce cas clinique de souligner la gravité des infections orbitaires et leurs conséquences dramatiques en cas de retard de prise en charge.