[Ocular and orbital complications of paranasal sinusitis]

The task of the research was epidemiological and clinical analyses of those patients.

In the period of 1976-200 147 patients with complications of perinasal sinusitis were treated. As numerous classifications of paranasal sinusitis complications exist, the analysis of the material was based on the modified classification proposed by the authors. The frequency of the complications was presented in 5-years periods.

There were 133 patients treated due to ocular and orbital complications. In our material there were 79 patients (59.4%) up to 15 years of age and 54 patients (40.6%) older than 15 years. We noted 47 females (35.3%) and 86 males (64.7%). In evaluated 5-years periods the number of patients treated balanced between 17 and 37. In our material dominated orbital periostitis (palpebral edema)--103 cases (77.4%). Subperiosteal abscessus of the orbit was noted in 21 cases (15.8%), inflammation of the orbital tissue--in 5 cases (3.8%), orbital abscessus in 2 cases (1.5%), other rare complications--in 2 cases (1.5%).

Generally the number of patients with ocular and orbital complications of paranasal sinusitis was changing in 5-years periods, but we did not notice any permanent tendency for increase or decrease. In the last 5 years we noted the increase in the number of complications, which was connected with the increase of the number of patients treated for orbital periostitis. In 2 patients we found rare orbital and ocular complications, that were not included in existing classifications. These were: orbital subperiosteal haematoma and episcleritis.