SINUSITIS-INDUCED SUBDURAL EMPYEMA

Over a 17 year period, 1975-91, 10 children were managed who had sinusitis-induced subdural or extradural empyema. Their ages ranged from 6 to 14 years, with a mean of 11 years. All presented with worsening headaches, fever, vomiting, all had neurological abnormalities, and all had symptoms or signs suggestive of sinusitis. Initial computed tomography gave normal results in five cases and the empyema was diagnosed on the second or third scan. All patients had symptoms for at least one to two weeks before the diagnosis was made. Streptococcus milleri was the organism most frequently implicated. Medical treatment was started in all cases on admission, but all required surgical intervention before resolution.