Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2006 Aug;49(8):869-872.

A Case of Petrositis with Abducens Palsy

• Lee NH
• Ban JH
• Park CY
• Kim CC

Abstract

Petrous apicitis is an extension of infection from the mastoid air cell tract into petrous apex. Petrous apicitis, a potentially fatal complication of suppurative otitis media, presents a variety of symptoms. But the classical findings of petrous apicitis, called Gradenigo's syndrome that include abducens nerve palsy, deep facial pain and acute suppurative otitis media, rarely occur. Gradenigo's syndrome can be treated with surgery, but the advent of antibiotics and early imaging study allow conservative treatment in some uncomplicated cases. With the widespread use of antibiotics, petrous apicitis has become an uncommon disease. So most physicians have little clinical experience in their diagnosis and treatment of this disease. We present a case of Gradenigo's syndrome, which was unresponsive to conservative treatment. We provide here details of our experience of treating the patient with surgery without complication.

Keyword

Abducens nerve palsy; Petrous bone

MeSH Terms

Abducens Nerve Diseases
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Diagnosis
Facial Pain
Humans
Mastoid
Otitis Media, Suppurative
Paralysis*
Petrositis*
Petrous Bone
Anti-Bacterial Agents