Clinical Analysis of Orbital Subperiosteal Abscess

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Subperiosteal abscess is one of the most common orbital complications of sinusitis. It occurs secondary to the spread of infection through natural dehesience of orbital wall, bony suture line, and vein. One of serious complications of subperiosteal abscess is permanently decreased visual acuity, and its incidence is reported as 15-30%. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical features, diagnosis, management, and therapeutic results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewd retrospectively the medical records of 7 patients with subperiosteal abscess for recent 13 years. Patients were 5 males and 2 females, and the age of patients ranged from 4 to 64 years. RESULTS: 3 cases of subperiosteal abscesses developed in medial wall, 3 cases in superior wall and 1 case in inferior wall. We did successful surgical drainage in 5 patients and 2 cases were treated with intravenous antibiotics only. In case of medial and inferior wall, drainage procedure was done safely by endoscopic sinus surgery. However, in case of superior wall, traditional external approach was used. CONCLUSION: Exact ophthalmologic evaluation and CT finding are important in determinig surgical treatment. Furtehrmore, method of surgical approach depends on the sites of subperiosteal abscess.