Orbital cellulitis after faden operation on the medial rectus.
BACKGROUND
Orbital cellulitis after strabismus surgery is uncommon, may cause blindness and may lead to death. Very few cases have been described in detail due to the low incidence of this complication.


METHODS
We report the first case of orbital cellulitis following Faden operation on the medial rectus muscle. We believe that the infection was due to asymptomatic ethmoid sinusitis. Our case is compared with other cases previously reported.


RESULTS
A two-year-old boy was surgically treated for residual esotropia after two botulinum toxin A injections. Two days after surgery, signs of orbital cellulitis developed in his right orbit. CT-scan disclosed right ethmoid sinusitis that spread to the orbit after surgery. After intravenous antibiotic treatment, the infection resolved with full restoration of visual acuity and ocular motility.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite adequate measures to prevent infection, orbital cellulitis may complicate strabismus surgery. Patients must be instructed to recognize early symptoms of this severe infection and call the surgeon immediately. Diagnosis may be confirmed by CT-scanning of the orbits. Prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics usually leads to full recovery.
Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina. larmesto@intramed.net
Alejandro
A
Armesto
María Cristina
MC
Ugrin
D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004948:Esotropia / Q000601:surgery*; D015521:Ethmoid Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054517:Orbital Cellulitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D002443:Ceftriaxone; D003907:Dexamethasone