[Surgical or conservative treatment in orbital complications of sinus inflammations (author's transl)]

47 patients with orbital complications resulting from acute sinusitis have been treated at the Freiburg ENT Department during the last seven years. Acute ethmoiditis predominated in children, while pansinusitis was more common in adults. Previous sinus surgery did not prevent orbital complications arising from the same sinus. Orbital involvement was classified into periostitis, subperiosteal abscess and orbital cellulitis. According to clinical findings, 44.7% of the patients were managed conservatively. Prognosis was best in periostitis, whereas consersative treatment was unsafe in orbital cellulits. Children usually respond well to appropriate antibiotic coverage but the occurrence of common upper respiratory or anaerobic pathogens should be kept in mind.