Abstract
Introduction
Distant spread of infection due to dental abscess in head and neck region is often reported in the literature. Orbital cellulitis or abscess although rare as a complication from decayed primary teeth in children is not an exception. The periapical infection from the maxillary primary molar spreads easily to the maxillary sinus first and followed by entry into the orbit through the orbital floor or through the ethmoidal sinuses. This if untreated may lead to orbital abscess, proptosis, progressive loss of vision, intracranial extension and even death.
Materials and Methods
A 10 year old boy presenting with severe pain, proptosis of right eyeball, ophthalmoplegia and blindness.
Conclusion
Managed successfully with timely medical and surgical intervention with complete restoration of vision. This case presented emphasizes the primary teeth care necessary in children which if unchecked can cause fatal complications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Grewal H, Verma M, Kumar A (2009) Prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in the rural child population of Nainital District, Uttaranchal. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent 27(4):224–226
Dhar V, Bhatnagar M (2009) Dental caries and treatment needs of children (6–10 years) in rural Udaipur, Rajasthan. Indian J Dent Res 20(3):256–260
Stepherd MA, Nadanovsky P, Sheiham A (1999) The prevalence and impact of dental pain in 8 year old school children in Harrow, England. Br Dent J 187:38–41
Adnan SB (2000) Instructive case. A swollen eye. J Paediatr Child Health 36:179–181
Rosen D, Ardekian L, Abu El-Naaj I et al (2000) Orbital infection arising from a primary tooth: a case report. Int J Paediatr Dent 10:237–239
British society of paediatric dentistry (2001) A policy document on management of caries in the primary dentition. Int J Paediatr Dent 11:153–157
Brook I (1995) Brain abscess in children: microbiology and management. J Child Neurol 10:283–288
Allan BP, Eqbert MA, Myall RW (1991) Orbital abscess of odontogenic origin. Case report and review of literature. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 20(5):268–270
Brook I (2007) Microbiology of acute sinusitis of odontogenic origin presenting with periorbital cellulits in children. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 116(5):386–388
Ferguson MP, McNab AA (1999) Current treatment and outcome in orbital cellulitis. Aust NZ J Ophthalmol 27:375–379
Vairaktaris E et al (2009) Orbital cellulitis, orbital subperiosteal and intraorbital abscess. Report of three cases and review of the literature. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 37:132–136
Ikeda K, Oshima T, Suzuki H, Kikuchi T, Suzuki M, Kobayashi T (2003) Surgical treatment of subperiosteal abscess of the orbit: Sendai’s ten-year experience. Auris Nasus Larynx 30:259–262
Rahbar R, Robson CD, Petersen RA, DiCanzio J, Rosbe KW, McGill TJ, Healy GB (2001) Management of orbital subperiosteal abscess in children. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 127:281–286
Fakhri S, Pereira K (2006) Endoscopic management of orbital absessess. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 39:1037–1047
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arunkumar, K.V. Orbital Infection Threatening Blindness Due to Carious Primary Molars: An Interesting Case Report. J. Maxillofac. Oral Surg. 15, 72–75 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-015-0801-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-015-0801-6