Orbital and Intracranial Complications of Acute Rhinosinusitis in a Tertiary Center, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background Rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the nasal cavity's mucosa and paranasal sinuses. In rare cases, acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) might lead to significant orbital and intracranial complications. This study aims to review the patients who presented with orbital or intracranial complications of ARS and to identify the main outcomes of these complications and their prognosis. Methods In this study, a retrospective chart review of patients with orbital or intracranial complications of ARS who presented to the otolaryngology department at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2016 to 2022 was conducted. Results A total of 43 patients with orbital, intracranial, or both (orbital and intracranial) complications of ARS were included. The most involved sinuses were maxillary sinuses. The most reported orbital complications were subperiosteal abscesses, and the most reported intracranial complications were epidural abscesses. Conclusion Orbital and intracranial complications of ARS are serious and life-threatening if not recognized early and treated effectively. The majority of ARS complications in this study were orbital complications. Fortunately, most of the cases carry a favorable outcome.