[Surgical management of subperiosteal abscess of the orbit]

Subperiosteal abscess is generally defined as the collection of pus between the periorbita and the orbital wall, and usually results from paranasal sinus infection. Early, appropriate evaluation and management observing signs and symptoms of orbital inflammation are required to prevent blindness. We report 5 cases of subperiosteal abscess caused by paranasal sinus problems. We used endoscopic ethmoidectomy with puncture or endonasal endoscopic drainage of the abscess and found orbital complications in 4. We used conservative therapy in 1 with no visual acuity. We discuss pathogenesis and surgical indications and approaches. Three of 4 patients with mild visual acuity and treated with surgical procedure were cured without sequalae. We successfully managed the superior subperiosteal abscess with an endoscopic endonasal approach. One of 4 patients who had severe vision loss, however, was cured without any recovery of loss of vision after surgical drainage to decrease orbital pressure. The endscopic endonasal approach is more useful in managing both sinus disease and orbital complications than external ethmoidectomy.