Bilateral sterile sub-tenon abscess with vicryl suture reaction following strabismus surgery: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

After strabismus surgery, infections and complications are uncommon but avoidable with the right aseptic measures. Rarely have cases of non-infectious sub-tenon abscesses been documented in the past; these cases need to be appropriately recognized and treated.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this report we describe a case of bilateral sub-tenon abscess 4 weeks after medial rectus recession. Despite receiving topical antibiotics for 7 days, there was no improvement, and multiple conjunctival cultures and sensitivity showed no growth. Both eye's sub-tenon abscess was drained, irrigated with gentamicin, and the fragile suture was removed.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Sub-tenon abscess has been associated with bacterial infection which has more sever presentation. Several facts, including the lack of organisms in the pre-operative and intraoperative cultures, the presence of big cells resembling foreign bodies, and the improvement that occurred after suture extrusion, make infection unlikely in this case.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that suture reaction is most likely to be responsible for a late-onset sub-tenon abscess with a negative culture and no response to antibiotics, and the suture should be removed.