The place of endonasal endoscopy in the treatment of orbital cellulitis.

Orbital cellulitis secondary to acute sinusitis is uncommon, dangerous, and can lead to blindness and death. The ethmoid is the predominantly involved sinus. Management policy consists of early drainage of the affected sinus combined with systemic antibiotic therapy. If no improvement is achieved within the first 48 h, exploration of the fronto-ethmoidal region is mandatory. Endonasal endoscopic surgery facilitates early drainage of the affected sinus, eradication of the disease from the fronto-ethmoidal region, and drainage of the subperiosteal abscess. Sixteen cases of orbital cellulitis were treated successfully by endonasal endoscopic surgery with no complications.