Approaches to subperiosteal orbital abscesses

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical features, management and complications of subperiosteal orbital abscesses (SPOA)—a serious complication of rhinosinusitis. Retrospective data of 36 patients with SPOA secondary to acute rhinosinusitis from January 1998 to December 2011 were evaluated. Patients were analyzed in terms of age, gender, clinical features, CT findings, surgical procedures, microbiology, and complications. Twenty-three males and 13 females aged from 3 to 76 were evaluated. Nine patients—seven of which were under the age of 10—with small medial SPOA were treated only with medical management. Of the 13 with medial SPOA, transnasal endoscopic approach was performed for 10 and external approach for 3 to drain the abscess. As for the 12 patients with superior SPOA, 8 were treated via combined approach and 4 via external approach. The most common microorganisms were streptococci in children and anaerobes in adults. Total loss of vision developed in two adults with diabetes mellitus (DM). One patient with superior SPOA died due to frontal lobe abscess. Young children with small medial SPOA without significant ocular signs may successfully be managed medically. Surgical drainage is indicated for nonmedial abscesses, large medial abscesses with severe visual loss and with insufficient response to medical management. The risk of blindness from SPOA is higher in patients with DM.