Complications of frontal and ethmoid sinusitis

A small percentage of patients with acute frontal or ethmoid sinusitis develop orbital, cranial or CNS complications. At selected University of Tennessee affiliated hospitals, from 1974 to 1978, there were 14 such cases which required major surgical intervention in addition to intensive medical therapy. The most common complication in this series was subperiosteal orbital abscess. The most common bacterial isolates were streptococcus and staphylococcus. A discussion of complications associated with frontal and ethmoid sinusitis is included as well as recommendations for medical and surgical management.