Evaluation of orbital cellulitis and results of treatment.

Optimal management of patients with orbital cellulitis depends on how accurately the disease is classified and on the appropriateness with which antibiotics and surgery are used to treat the disease. Therapy must be adjusted on the basis of the extent of the disease. In order to determine the balance of treatment modalities which is most beneficial for certain disease presentations, we reviewed a series of 303 patients with orbital cellulitis. The anatomical and bacteriological etiology of the disease was determined in each case on the basis of the examination, visual acuity, results of sinus radiography, results of culture, ultrasonography, and computerized tomography. To avoid the 5% complication rate that occurred in this series, an evaluation and treatment protocol is recommended.