Advertising Survey

We would like your input on how advertising is currently used in the site.

Please take this short survey to help us out.

Hide this message

Home > Professional Reference > Frontal Bone Osteomyelitis

Print this page

Frontal Bone Osteomyelitis

This PatientPlus article is written for healthcare professionals so the language may be more technical than the condition leaflets. You may find the abbreviations list helpful.

Synonyms: Pott's puffy tumour (PPT), osteomyelitis of the calvarium1,2

Description

  • This is osteomyelitis with a subperiosteal (extradural) abscess in the frontal bone.
  • It usually represents an anterior extension of a frontal sinus infection or as a complication of a compound skull fracture.
  • It can also be a complication of mastoiditis and has been reported following an insect bite.3
  • Streptococcus milleri group is the most common pathogen.

Presentation

  • Headaches
  • There may be localised swelling
  • Fever
  • Nuchal rigidity
  • Altered mental state (from subtle changes, confusion or complete coma)
  • Focal neurological signs, e.g. seizures4

Since the advent of antibiotics, Pott's puffy tumour (PPT) has been only rarely reported (mostly in children and adolescents) but more recently has been described following intranasal and inhaled cocaine or methamfetamine abuse,5,6 and as a complication of dental sepsis.7

Diagnosis

CT scan (with and without contrast) or MRI scan.8 CT scan may reveal bone erosion and evidence of rim enhancing abscess formation. There may be intracranial involvement, e.g. fluid collection and CT/MRI may also help in this.

Management

Admission with removal of the infected bone and prolonged intravenous antibiotics (e.g. for six weeks). Antibiotics are usually of the penicillin group, e.g. high dose IV benzylpenicillin for 3 weeks followed by 3 weeks of oral amoxicillin. However, all cases should be discussed with the local microbiologist and antibiotics should be altered once sensitivities are known.

Complications

  • Extension of infection, e.g. brain abscess9
  • Meningitis
  • Epidural empyema
  • Subdural empyema

History

Percivall Pott (1714-1788) was a London surgeon (St. Bartholomew's Hospital) who also gives his name to Pott's disease of the spine (spinal tuberculosis - scrofula), and to Pott's fracture (fracture dislocation of the ankle). He was first to describe an industrially acquired disease: cancer of the scrotum in chimney sweeps.10

Document references

  1. Pott P. Injuries of the head from external violence. 1st ed; London: C Hitch and L Hawes (1760) 47-48
  2. Tattersall R, Tattersall R; Pott's puffy tumour. Lancet. 2002 Mar 23;359(9311):1060-3.
  3. Raja V, Low C, Sastry A, et al; Pott's puffy tumor following an insect bite. J Postgrad Med. 2007 Apr-Jun;53(2):114-6. [abstract]
  4. Strony RJ, Dula D; Pott puffy tumor in a 4-year-old boy presenting in status epilepticus. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2007 Nov;23(11):820-2. [abstract]
  5. Noskin GA, Kalish SB; Pott's puffy tumor: a complication of intranasal cocaine abuse. Rev Infect Dis. 1991 Jul-Aug;13(4):606-8. [abstract]
  6. Banooni P, Rickman LS, Ward DM; Pott puffy tumor associated with intranasal methamphetamine. JAMA. 2000 Mar 8;283(10):1293.
  7. Chandy B, Todd J, Stucker FJ, et al; Pott's puffy tumor and epidural abscess arising from dental sepsis: a case report. Laryngoscope. 2001 Oct;111(10):1732-4. [abstract]
  8. McDermott C, O'Sullivan R, McMahon G; An unusual cause of headache: Pott's puffy tumour. Eur J Emerg Med. 2007 Jun;14(3):170-3. [abstract]
  9. Tuon FF, Russo R, Nicodemo AC; Brain abscess secondary to frontal osteomyelitis. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2006 Jul-Aug;48(4):233-5. [abstract]
  10. Percivall Pott; Brief biography on whonamedit.com

Acknowledgements

EMIS is grateful to Dr Gurvinder Rull for writing this article. The final copy has passed scrutiny by the independent Mentor GP reviewing team. ©EMIS 2010.
Document ID: 2171
Document Version: 21
Document Reference: bgp956
Last Updated: 26 Aug 2010
Provide feedback