Minimally invasive treatment of patients with Pott's puffy tumour with or without endocranial extension - a case series of six patients: Our Experience

Enhancing Frontal Sinus Surgery: Assessing the Long-Term Impact of Free Grafts and Flaps in Draf III Procedures

The frontal sinus medial drainage -Draf Type III (modified endoscopic Lothrop) procedure, has become a cornerstone in frontal sinus surgery over the last three decades. Despite its widespread acceptance, challenges such as restenosis and neo-ostium closure persist, prompting the exploration of various preventive techniques. In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 111 patients who underwent the Draf III procedure between November 2015 and November 2023, with a mean follow-up period of 3 years and 11 months. Approximately two-thirds of patients (64%) had undergone previous sinus surgery and 16% a previous Draf III. Over half of the patients had inflammatory conditions, with the majority being chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (46%), while 15% were diagnosed with malignant sinonasal tumors, and 23% with benign sinonasal tumors, of which the commonest was osteoma, accounting for 14 cases. The mean follow-up period was 3 years and 11 months. We focused on evaluating the efficacy of mucosal flaps and free grafts in preventing neo-ostium closure. Although it appears that there is no statistically significant correlation between flap usage and the need for revision surgery or ostium patency maintenance overall, subgroup analysis highlighted the benefits of flap reconstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. In this subgroup, the use of flaps or grafts reduced the rate of neo-ostium stenosis from 20% to 0% (p < 0.05). Overall revision rate was 11.7%-however this was 8% in patients without acute inflammation at the time of surgery and went up to 31% in the presence of pus in the frontal recess (p = 0.02). This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into long-term outcomes, the enduring effectiveness of interventions in frontal sinus surgery, and especially the importance of taking into account the underlying pathology when assessing long-term outcomes.

A Systematic Review of Intracranial Complications in Adults with Pott Puffy Tumor over Four Decades

The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors of intracranial complications in adult patients with Pott Puffy Tumor (PPT). A systematic review was conducted of clinical studies from January 1983 to December 2022 that reported on PPT adult patients. The full-text articles were reviewed for the patients’ ages, sex, cultured organisms, surgical procedures, clinical sequalae, and underlying diseases that may affect the onset of intracranial complications in PPT adult patients. A total of 106 studies were included. Medical data were reviewed for 125 patients (94 males, 31 females). The median age was 45 years. A total of 52% had comorbidities, mostly head trauma (24.5%), sinus/neurosurgical operations (22.4%), immunosuppression conditions (13.3%), diabetes mellitus (9.1%), cocaine use (7.1%), or dental infections (6.1%). A total of 28 cultures revealed Streptococcus (22.4%), 24 contained staphylococci (19.2%), and 22 cultures contained other pathogens (17.6%). An amount of 30.4% developed intracranial complications, with the most common being epidural abscesses or empyemas (55.3%), as well as subdural (15.7%) and extradural lesions (13.2%). Age, DM, and immunosuppression conditions are significantly associated with intracranial complications (p < 0.001, p = 0.018 and p = 0.022, respectively). Streptococcus infection is associated with intracranial complications (p = 0.001), although Staphylococcus and other microorganisms are not. Surgical intervention, mainly ESS, and broad-spectrum antibiotics remain the cornerstones of treatment.

Unusual Presentation of Pott's puffy tumour in a child: our recent experience and review of the literature

Pott's puffy tumour (PPT) is a rarely seen, but highly important, complication of frontal sinusitis. Early recognition followed by prompt imaging and treatment of this condition are essential to improve patient outcomes and prevent complications. This case report describes an atypical presentation of radiologically confirmed PPT in a boy who presented with a 2.5-week history of progressive frontal headache and midline frontal swelling. Flexible nasendoscopy revealed no acute findings. Prompt CT imaging confirmed the diagnosis and early surgical intervention via endoscopic approach with aggressive antibiotic therapy led to good recovery. This case highlights the need to remember PPT in assessing any child or adolescent with a new forehead swelling, with or without sinusitis symptoms. If there is strong clinical suspicion, further imaging should not be delayed. Surgical intervention should be performed as early as possible to prevent intracranial complications; antibiotics alone are not sufficient.

Pott Puffy Tumor in Adults: The Τiming of Surgical Ιntervention

Pott’s puffy tumor (PPT) represents a rare complication of frontal sinusitis, and it is considered as a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone based on osteomyelitis.

We report two adult PPT patients and discuss the treatment plan as well as the correct timing of surgical intervention. Clinical examination revealed sinusitis with puss, and imaging findings showed bony erosion of the dorsal wall of the frontal sinus in both patients. In case 1, a “wait and see” approach was followed with remission of the patient’s symptoms, and a Draf IIb type was performed 21 days after discharge. In case 2, worsening of symptoms led to surgical drainage through a Lynch incision followed by 20 days of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Then a Draf type IIa was performed. Both patients received antibiotic therapy over the course of six weeks and had full recovery.

We highlight the importance of the correct timing of surgical intervention as it is depended on the clinical and radiological findings. The timing to performing radical drainage surgery including external or endoscopic frontal sinus surgery is not determined in the literature. Worsening of common symptoms and neurological signs in adult PPT patients means by default an immediate surgical intervention. Reduction of symptoms and antibiotic treatment response means that surgery should be delayed and performed in a surgical field free of inflammation.

Pautas de tratamiento del tumor inflamatorio de Pott. Revisión bibliográfica

Introducción y objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es proporcionar una revisión actualizada del tratamiento médico y quirúrgico en pacientes con abscesos subperiósticos secundarios a la osteomielitis del hueso frontal. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda en la base de datos PubMed, BVS (biblioteca virtual en salud España) y Scopus de las distintas opciones terapéuticas del tumor de Pott. La revisión se realizó siguiendo los criterios PRISMA. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 20 artículos en la búsqueda bibliográfica. Un total de 30 pacientes (24 varones, con media de edad de 27 años) fueron revisados. En un 90% la causa fue una rinosinusitis crónica, seguida por traumatismos locales. En la mayoría de los casos se realizó un drenaje endoscópico tipo Draf 2 (60%), 5 pacientes fueron sometidos a un Draf 3, tres a un Draf 1 y sólo uno a un Draf 2B. Un paciente fue tratado con sinuplastia con balón y otro con craneotomía externa aislada. Todos los pacientes tenían antibióticos orales o intravenosos de duración variable; aunque predomina el esquema terapéutico de vancomicina y ceftriaxona endovenosa durante 6 semanas. No hubo más complicaciones después de la intervención endoscópica sinusal. La presencia de fístulas, cicatrizaron sin necesidad de desbridamiento quirúrgico o cierre. Discusión: el tumor inflamatorio de Pott es una patología muy infrecuente. Debido a la rareza de la patología, muchos casos han sido infradiagnosticados desembocando en complicaciones intracraneales. El abordaje externo ha sido el tratamiento de elección durante años; actualmente se aboga por un abordaje endonasal guiada en ocasiones por neuronavegador sumado a la antibioticoterapia correspondiente durante un largo periodo de tiempo. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los casos de tumor inflamatorio de Pott pueden manejarse endoscópicamente. La disponibilidad de instrumentos en ángulo motorizados, videos de alta definición y sistemas de guía de imágenes han proporcionado a los otorrinolaringólogos una alternativa creíble a las técnicas tradicionales. Además, la biodisponibilidad mejorada de los antibióticos puede obviar la necesidad de una craneotomía y drenajes externos.

Draf III frontal sinus surgery for the treatment of Pott's puffy tumour in adults: our case series and a review of frontal sinus anatomy risk factors

Purpose

We present our case series of four adult patients with Pott’s puffy tumour (PPT), successfully treated with Draf III over a mean period of 11 months. A critical review of the literature is also provided.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients undergoing Draf III for PPT from January 2018 to January 2019 was performed.

Results

Four consecutive male patients ranging from 26 to 62 years, with a mean age of 49.5 ± 16.3 years, undergoing Draf III for Pott’s puffy tumour were included. Two patients had a Kuhn type IV frontal cell narrowing the frontonasal pathway and presented without previous sinus surgery, whereas the other two had previous sinus surgery. The success rate of the operation was 100% with an average length of follow-up of 11 months (range 5–18).

Conclusion

In our experience, the Draf III procedure is a highly effective treatment of PPT. In particular, we have demonstrated it to be very effective in accessing highly positioned Kuhn type IV cells.

Treatment of pediatric extra-axial sinogenic infection: case series and literature review

PURPOSE

Analyze the clinical presentation, microbiology, outcomes, and medical and surgical treatment strategies of intracranial extension of sinogenic infection in pediatric patients.

METHODS

A retrospective, single-center study of patients < 18 years of age, presenting with intracranial extension of bacterial sinogenic infections requiring surgical intervention over a 5-year period, was conducted. Electronic medical records were reviewed for age, sex, primary symptoms, duration of symptoms, presence of sinusitis at initial presentation, microorganisms isolated, mode of surgery, timing of surgery, length of stay, and neurologic sequelae.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were identified; mean age was 10 years with 82.3% male predominance. Average duration of illness prior to presentation was 9.8 days, with 64.7% of patients displaying disease progression while on oral antibiotics prior to presentation. Sinusitis and intracranial extension were present in all patients upon admission. Simultaneous endoscopic endonasal drainage and craniotomy were performed on 70.5% of the patients, with the remaining 29.5% undergoing endonasal drainage only. Of the patients who underwent simultaneous endoscopic endonasal drainage and craniotomy, 17.6% required repeat craniotomy and 5.8% required repeat sinus surgery. The most commonly isolated organisms were S. intermedius (52.9%), S. anginosus (23.5%), and S. pyogenes (17.6%). All patients were treated postoperatively antibiotic on average 4-6 weeks. Frequently occurring long-lasting complications included seizures (29.4%) and focal motor deficits (17.6%); learning disability, anxiety disorders, impaired cognition, and sensory deficits occurred less frequently.

CONCLUSION

In the case of intracranial extension of bacterial sinogenic infection, early identification and surgical treatment are crucial to avoid neurological sequelae.

Pott's puffy tumor in children: A review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

Pott's puffy tumor (PTT) is a frontal subperiosteal abscess associated with underlying frontal osteomyelitis. The purpose of the present study was to assess the rate of intracranial involvement in pediatric and adolescent patients with PPT and to discuss the diagnostic workup and the therapeutic features of this pathology.

METHODS

We searched Web of Science, PubMed and MEDLINE from 1998 to 2018. The search focused on papers concerning the diagnostic procedure and therapeutic management of PTT. Statistical techniques were not used.

RESULTS

We included 53 articles that described 92 pediatric and adolescent patients with PPT. The overall rate of intracranial complications was found to be 72%. Most authors used computed tomography for the diagnosis of PTT and its complications, either alone or in combination with magnetic resonance imaging. In 50% of cases, an endoscopic endonasal approach is used for the management of the underlying acute or chronic sinusitis.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the available literature, it seems that the incidence rate of intracranial involvement in patients with PPT is quite high. Early diagnosis using the appropriate imaging raise the possibility of good recovery. Concerning the therapy of PTT, endoscopic sinus surgery could be considered as a valuable technique. The vast majority of patients treated appropriately recover without long-term neurologic complications and sequelae.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 130:225-231, 2020.

Neurosurgical Management of Pott's Puffy Tumor in an Obese Adolescent with Asthma: Case Report with a Brief Review of the Literature

Pott’s puffy tumor is a rare and severe complication of frontal sinusitis, characterized by the progressive swelling of the frontal soft tissues secondary to a subperiosteal abscess. Radiological imaging with ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are important diagnostic tools in establishing diagnosis and treatment planning. Early surgery along with intravenous antibiotics are required in order to achieve a good recovery. The authors report a case of Pott’s puffy tumor in an obese 14-year-old male, with a previous history of asthma and a chronic use of steroids, treated with neurosurgical debridement followed by a combined course of intravenous (IV) and oral antibiotics, who had a favorable outcome upon long-term follow-up. In addition, a brief review of the current medical literature was performed for a discussion on the diagnostic and therapeutic features of this pathology.

Not quite Pott's puffy tumour

Pott's puffy tumour (PPT) is characterised by a subperiosteal abscess associated with osteomyelitis of the frontal bone-a rare complication of frontal sinusitis, more common in the paediatric population. We describe a case mimicking PPT, where abscess extension was facilitated by previous surgery. Usually patients with PPT would be systemically unwell, but our patient, a 63-year-old Caucasian man, was systemically well with a large swelling of his forehead. A CT was performed to evaluate possible intracranial and intracerebral complications such as epidural, subdural and brain abscesses. Emergent surgical drainage was performed with prolonged administration of antibiotic therapy. 12 weeks later, he had recollection in the frontal sinus requiring incision and drainage. 6 weeks afterwards, he underwent planned Lothrop procedure and endoscopic sinus surgery. Although clinically the patient presented with overwhelming features of PPT, we emphasise that PPT involves osteomyelitis of frontal bone, which is absent in our case.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pott's Puffy Tumor: Is It Time for a Paradigm Shift in Managing a 250-Year-Old Problem?

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to review the clinical outcomes and efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in the management of Pott's puffy tumor (PPT).

METHODS

Literature PubMed review using a combination of MeSH terms and keywords was undertaken, combined with a single surgeon case series of 3 patients.

RESULTS

A total of 29 (20 males, median age 25 years) cases were reviewed. The most common etiology was acute frontal sinusitis (62%), followed by a history of chronic rhinosinusitis (28%). Two patients presented with concomitant preseptal cellulitis and cutaneous fistula each, while another had pneumocephalus. The majority of cases (59%) had Draf 1 procedure. Three cases had Draf 3 procedure. Five cases were successfully treated by sinus balloon sinuplasty. Postoperatively, most patients had either oral or intravenous antibiotics of varying duration. There were no further complications following ESS. Both fistulas healed without requiring surgical debridement or closure.

CONCLUSION

Some PPT cases can be managed endoscopically. The availability of powered angled instruments, high-definition video, and image guidance systems have provided the modern otolaryngologists with a credible alternative to traditional techniques. Furthermore, improved bioavailability of modern antibiotics may obviate the need for craniotomy and external drains.