Complications of acute frontal sinusitis: a retrospective study.

Abstract

Even though being a rare condition in the era of antibiotic treatment, complications of acute frontal sinusitis still pose a potentially life-threatening problem. We present a clinical case series using a combined surgical approach. Within a 7 year period, all patients with a suppurative complication of an acute frontal sinusitis were included into this retrospective study and evaluated concerning histories, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and achieved outcomes. Twelve patients (11-74 years) were identified; this corresponds to 0.3% of all patients that have undergone paranasal sinus surgery and 15.4% of all patients with infectious complications of sinusitis. The cases could be subdivided as follows: intracranial complications (4/12), osteomyelitis of the frontal bone (4/12), frontal/orbital soft tissue involvement (3/12) and endoluminal empyema (1/12). These were all correctly diagnosed by CT and (especially in the cases of intracranial complications) MRI. The microbiological spectrum comprised mostly non-multiresistant Staphylococci and Streptococci. All patients received aggressive antibiotic and combined surgical treatment. Within a mean follow up period of 32 months, the disease-related mortality and the rate of severe long-term ailment was 0%. If detected and treated early, both long-term morbidity and mortality can be minimised. A close cooperation with the related specialties (neurosurgery, ophthalmology, radiology) is thereby of utmost importance.

• Authors: Christian S Betz, Wolfgang Issing, Johannes Matschke, Anne Kremer, Eberhard Uhl, Andreas Leunig
• Journal: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 265 Issue 1 Pg. 63-72 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 0937-4477 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17676328 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Brain Abscess (etiology)
• Child
• Epidural Abscess (etiology)
• Female
• Frontal Bone
• Frontal Sinusitis (complications, surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteomyelitis (etiology)
• Young Adult