Visual outcomes following orbital decompression for orbital infections

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Orbital infections present a significant risk to vision in children, potentially causing blindness and other severe complications.
• Endonasal intervention is a standard treatment for various orbital infections like cellulitis and abscesses.
• Limited research exists on visual outcomes following endonasal orbital decompression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the visual outcomes and sequelae after endonasal intervention for pediatric orbital infections.
• To assess the efficacy of surgical treatment in preventing vision loss and improving ocular function.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study including 69 pediatric patients (0-18 years) treated between 2008-2018.
• Data collected from electronic medical records at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.
• Analysis of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and extraocular movements pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery led to symptom improvement in the cohort.
• Statistically significant improvement in visual acuity (logMAR values) in both eyes post-surgery.
• Significant normalization of tonometry, extraocular movements, and eyelid/eyelash appearance.

Conclusions:

• Otolaryngology surgical intervention for orbital cellulitis does not result in vision decline or loss.
• Endonasal intervention is effective in improving visual outcomes for pediatric orbital infections.
• Demonstrates the efficacy of surgical treatment for orbital cellulitis, abscesses, and subperiosteal abscesses.