The Clinical Consideration for Intracranial Epidural Abscess

ABSTRACT

The intracranial epidural abscess is a not indenpendent disease which is practically always secondary to osteitis or osteomyelitis of overlying bone. Also it was developed from complication of frontal sinusitis, middle ear or mastoiditis, incomplete debridement of compound comminuted depressed fracture and post-operative complications. Occasionally it was derived from dural sinus thrombophlebitis especially cavernous sinus. It was frequently developed frontal and temporal region. We have experienced 5 cases of intracranial epidural abscesses for this one year. Followings are the results ; 1. The causes were complication of compound depressed fracture, chronic osteomyelitis and post-operative complications. 2. The usual symptom was headache, fever and increased lethargy. 3. The laboratory findings of CBC were the increased WBC count and ESR. The CSF findings revealed occasionally increased the cell count and sugar. 4. The pus culture revealed proteus, coliform bacilli and paracolon bacili. 5. Treatment was surgical removal of overlying diseased bone, drainage of the purulent materials and instillation of antibotics irrigation. 6. The prognosis of the 5 cases of the intracranial epidural abscess was good. There was not appeared any complication or sequelae.