Bleach-Induced Chemical Sinusitis and Orbital Cellulitis Following Root Canal Treatment

The authors describe an unusual case of chemical sinusitis and orbital cellulitis secondary to a sodium hypochlorite accident in a patient who had just undergone root canal treatment. The patient presented with acute, progressive symptoms of unilateral maxillary sinusitis, facial cellulitis and orbital cellulitis which began hours after root canal treatment on the ipsilateral side. He was admitted to hospital under the care of the Otorhinolaryngology team and reviewed regularly by the Ophthalmologists. He underwent Endoscopic Sinus Surgery during his hospital stay. The intraoperative findings revealed necrotic sinus mucosa and slough within the involved maxillary sinus, which were suggestive of chemical burn injury induced by the highly alkaline sodium hypochlorite solution used during root canal treatment. He was treated postoperatively with regular nasal toilet, culture-directed antibiotics and topical ocular pressure-lowering eyedrops. He displayed a slow recovery with eventually no orbital sequelae, but experienced persistent cheek numbness three months post-injury. Severe chemical sinusitis with orbital cellulitis secondary to sodium hypochlorite accident is a rare complication of root canal treatment, with potentially severe consequences. It can present with symptoms similar to complicated acute bacterial sinusitis. Otorhinolaryngologists and dental surgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion when managing a patient post-root canal treatment with symptoms of unilateral sinusitis, facial cellulitis, orbital cellulitis and even airway compromise. This would allow prompt intervention before sight or life-threatening complications set in.