Kd. Pereira et al., MANAGEMENT OF MEDIAL SUBPERIOSTEAL ABSCESS OF THE ORBIT IS CHILDREN -A 5-YEAR EXPERIENCE, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, 38(3), 1997, pp. 247-254
A medial subperiosteal abscess (SPA) of the orbit is the most common s
erious complication of sinusitis in children. The distinction between
SPA and the more benign pre-septal disease is difficult to make especi
ally in a young child in whom an ophthalmological evaluation is often
difficult. Computerised tomography (CT) is the investigation of choice
in making this distinction. Subperiosteal inflammatory disease of the
orbit is initially treated with intravenous antibiotic therapy with s
urgery reserved for those patients who do not respond to medical treat
ment and in whom a medial SPA is confirmed by CT. Conventionally, the
abscess is drained via an external incision and an ethmoidectomy is pe
rformed at the same time. More recently, successful drainage of SPA's
has been accomplished endoscopically via a intranasal approach with le
ss morbidity and superior cosmesis. We present a 5 year experience of
24 patients with CT scans suggestive of medial SPA who underwent endos
copic exploration of the medial subperiosteal orbital space. We discus
s the current management of medial subperiosteal disease of the orbit
in children and include a review of the literature. Also included is a
clinical staging system which aids the management of orbital complica
tions of sinusitis. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.