Sino-orbital fistula: a complication of exenteration

To report the incidence, characteristics, and management of sino-orbital fistulas, a complication of orbital exenteration.

Retrospective interventional case series.

One hundred ten patients who underwent orbital exenteration at 2 orbital units.

Retrospective chart review of all cases of orbital exenteration between 1993 and 2005 at one orbital unit and between 1999 and 2005 at a second orbital unit.

Incidence of sino-orbital fistulas.

Seventy-three and 37 orbital exenterations were performed at the first and second orbital units, respectively. Five patients developed sino-orbital fistulas, 1 of whom developed 2 fistulas at separate sites. In the first unit, 4 fistulas developed in 3 of 73 (4.1%) patients who underwent orbital exenteration. In the second unit, 2 fistulas developed in 2 of 37 (5.4%) exenterated orbits. The majority (5/6) of fistulas occurred medially to the ethmoid sinus, whereas 1 occurred superiorly to the frontal sinus. Risk factors that may have contributed to fistula formation include radiotherapy (3/6), sinus disease (3/6), intraoperative penetration into a sinus (3/6), and immunocompromise (1/6). Management was tailored to the individual case and ranged from conservative socket hygiene to surgical repair with grafts or flaps. Four of the 6 fistulas recurred after repair. Three of these subsequently were closed successfully. Only 1 fistula persisted until the patient died from malignant disease.

Sino-orbital fistulas are uncommon but not rare complications of orbital exenteration that may be predicted by several risk factors. Bothersome symptoms may necessitate treatment, which can range from conservative management to surgical repair with various grafts or flaps. Despite repair, fistulas may be difficult to eradicate.