Chronic maxillary sinusitis complicated by Right orbital Abscess with ruptured globe following tooth extraction: a case report

Abstract

Objective: This article reports a case of a chronic maxillary sinusitis complicated by right orbital abscess with ruptured globe following tooth extraction in a 70-year-old female diabetic patient 4 weeks after forceps extraction of the upper right 1st premolar.

Case Description: Patient gave a history that prior to the tooth extraction, there was a carious cavity on the tooth, pain on mastication with background nasal congestion and post nasal drip of over one year duration. 4 weeks following extraction, there was marked right buccal and periorbital swelling. Examination by the ophthalmologist revealed rupture of the right globe with copious pus discharge from the lower eyelid of the right eye.  Examination by the dental team and the Head and Neck Surgeon revealed the presence of oroantral communication with pus discharge from the oroantral fistula and the retropharyngeal area. Fasting Blood Sugar on presentation was 278mg/dl. Patient was referred to the physician for optimization of her blood sugar level. Evisceration of the right eye was carried out along with incision and drainage of the right eyelid and buccal space. Intravenous ceftriaxone 1g daily, intravenous metronidazole 500mg 8 hourly, intramuscular genticin 80mg 8 hourly, eusol A&B dressing twice daily, paracetamol per oral 1g 8 hourly, menthol crystals steam inhalation twice daily, Diazepam 5mg nocte were prescribed for the patient. Inferior meatal antrostomy with antral washout was carried out by the Head and Neck Surgeon 2 weeks after. Following surgery, patient was placed on per oral Tavanic 500mg once daily, metronidazole 400mg 8 hourly, vitamin c 100mg 8hrly, guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine 25mg nocte, diclofenac potassium 50mg twice daily and menthol crystals steam inhalation twice daily. Review of the patient four weeks after surgery showed marked improvement in the clinical parameters of the patient, disappearance of swelling and cessation of pus from all points of previous discharge.

Conclusion: Chronic maxillary sinusitis complicated by right orbital abscess with ruptured globe following tooth extraction may be considered a potential complication of forceps extraction of maxillary premolars and molars especially in a medically compromised patient. The authors hereby recommend (1) ensuring adequate medical and dental evaluation of patients before forceps extraction (2) all medically compromised patients must be optimized before forceps extraction (3) The need for multidisciplinary management of medically compromised patients with dental diseases

Keywords: Orbital Abscess, Maxillary sinusitis, communication, globe rupture, Forceps extraction, Mellitus