ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Orbital cellulitis, also called postseptal cellulitis, is an infection of contents of the orbit (periorbital fat, neurovascular bundle, and the extraocular muscles). It should be differentiated from preseptal (periorbital) cellulitis which is a lesion of the anterior portion of the eyelid. However, both preseptal and postseptal cellulitis could present in a similar way with eye pain, edema, and erythema. AIM: The aim of the study was to review patients with orbital cellulitis as a complication of odontogenic cervicofacial infections seen in a Nigerian tertiary care facility. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of cases of odontogenic cervicofacial infections complicated by orbital infections that presented at a Nigerian tertiary health facility between January 2006 and September 2019 was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients with cervicofacial infections who presented with 11 orbital infections as a complication were retrieved for this study. They were six males and four females; male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Median age was 33.5 years (mean age was 34.3 years, range was 22-47 years). Based on clinical features and results of available imaging, orbital infections using the classification by Chandler et al., (1970), were one cases of type I (9.1%), seven cases (63.6%) of type II and two cases (18.2%) of type IV and one case (9.1%) of type V. There was no case of type III. CONCLUSION: Cervicofacial infections could arise from upper posterior teeth. These infections could spread into the orbit causing cellulitis especially type II.
