subperiosteala

Subperiosteal refers to a location beneath the periosteum, the dense membrane that covers most bones except at articular surfaces. The subperiosteal space is a potential gap between the bone cortex and the periosteum. The periosteum has an outer fibrous layer and an inner cambial layer that contribute to bone growth and healing.

Subperiosteal processes can be clinical manifestations or sequelae of injury or disease. Subperiosteal hematoma occurs after blunt trauma or in newborns with birth-related injuries; the collected blood elevates the periosteum from the bone and may cause localized swelling and pain. In systemic conditions such as scurvy, subperiosteal hemorrhages can lead to radiographic subperiosteal new bone formation along long bones.

Subperiosteal abscesses can arise from osteomyelitis and are more common in children. They present with localized tenderness, swelling, and sometimes fever, and require imaging to define extent plus antibiotics, with drainage if indicated. Subperiosteal bone formation or elevation can also be seen during healing of fractures or in certain metabolic or inflammatory disorders.

In dental and maxillofacial practice, subperiosteal implants are devices placed beneath the periosteum on the jawbone to support prostheses in patients with severe jaw resorption. They are less commonly used today in favor of endosseous implants, but they remain a historical and clinical reference point.

Diagnosis typically relies on imaging—X-ray, CT, or MRI—to delineate the subperiosteal space and its contents. Treatment is condition-specific, ranging from observation to antimicrobial therapy, drainage, or surgical intervention for implants or severe infection.