Treatment of Subperiosteal Abscess of the Orbit in Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The subperiosteal abscess in the orbit, caused mostly by sinusitis, has the major clinical finidings such as lid swelling, proptosis, limitation of the eye movement, and so on. The combined systemic administration of antibiotics and surgical drainage are the cornerstone of the treatment for the subperiosteal abscess. However, recent studies have shown that the systemic antibiotic therapy without any surgical intervention can effectively treat the disease. Therefore, this paper presents the case studies based on the treatment results of subperiosteal abscess. METHODS: The medical files of six patients are reviewed in detail, focused on the clinical findings and treatment results. The subjects had the subperiosteal abscess in the orbit and treated from June 1, 1996 to July 31, 2001. RESULTS: Five out of six patients were under the age of fifteen; 2 in the nasal side, 2 in the inferior side, and 1 in the superior side of the orbit. All of the five patients were treated effectively by the intravenous antibiotic therapy only. CONCLUSIONS: The subperiosteal abscess of the orbit in pediatric patients was treated by the intravenous antibiotic therapy only, including the one in the superior side. It is suggested that the intravenous antibiotic therapy can be enough to treat the subperiosteal abscess. However, we also recommend close monitoring of the patients to see whether the surgical intervention might be needed or not.