• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2014

Numerous oral and maxillofacial surgeons have found facial space infections after tooth extraction. Most of these infections can be managed easily, but some of them could be life-threatening. Among the facial infections, temporal space infections are rare. Most temporal space infections could be observed as secondary to maxillary third molar infections, maxillary sinusitis, and maxillary sinus fractures. Note, however, that there are insufficient studies on temporal space abscess due to mandibular second molars, especially with acupuncture. A 74-year-old female came to our hospital with severe trismus and facial swelling on the right temporal, buccal, posterior auricular, and cervical regions. The patient had undergone extraction of tooth #47 secondary to dental caries by a general dentist about a month ago. After the dental procedure, the patient had been treated with acupuncture therapy around the right temporomandibular joint area at the oriental medicine clinic. We performed emergency incision and drainage under general anesthesia and started antibiotic treatment with IV ampicillin/sulbactam 3 g every 24 hours and vancomycin 1 g every 24 hours for 5 days. The patient's symptoms subsided and ultimately disappeared. Temporal space abscess after mandibular molar extraction is quite rare. In this case, the spreading mechanism against gravity is considered to be acupuncture therapy.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.133-136
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• 2016

Facial abscess is a suppurative condition that is caused by infection and that its infected materials built up within the loose connective tissues or a fascial space of the head and neck. Facial abscess should be treated with a caution since it can make threat to patient's life. When pus collects near masticatory muscles, it may lead to masticatory muscle disorder reducing the range of mouth opening and the mobility of jaw. The authors review an uncommon case of facial abscess which occurred in temporal muscle and induced mouth opening limitation.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2013

The four principles of treatment of odontogenic infection are as follows : (1) removal of the cause, (2) establishment of drainage, (3) institution of antibiotic therapy, and (4) provision of supportive care, including proper rest and nutrition. A separate incision is required to establish drainage, especially in the case of extensive fascial space infections. There are four principle causes for active bleeding in the immediate incision & drainage phase; (1) vascular wall alteration (infection, scurvy, chemicals), (2) disorder of platelet function, (3) thrombocytopenic purpuras, (4) disorders of coagulation (liver disease, anticoagulation drug). If the hemorrhage from incision & drainage site is aggressive, the site must be packed with proper wet gauze and wound closure & drainage dressing are applied. The specific causes of bleeding may be associated with hypoxia, changes in the pH of blood & chemical changes affecting vascular contractility and blood clotting. This is a case report of bleeding control by the circumferential suture & drainage on active bleeding incision & drainage site of temporal space abscess due to advanced odontogenic infection in a multiple medically compromised disabled patient.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2015

Clinical features of masticator-space abscess (MSA) are very similar to those of parotitis or temporomandibular disorder (TMD), making early differential diagnosis difficult. Local causes of MSA include nerve block anesthesia, infection after tooth extraction, and trauma to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ); the systemic cause is immunodeficiency. Odontogenic causes account for most etiologies, but there are also unusual causes of MSA. A 66-year-old male patient visited the emergency room (ER) presenting with left-side TMJ pain three days after receiving an acupressure massage. He was tentatively diagnosed with conventional post-trauma TMD and discharged with medication. However, the patient returned to the ER with increased pain. At this time, his TMD diagnosis was confirmed. He made a third visit to the ER during which facial computed tomographic (CT) images were taken. CT readings identified an abscess or hematoma in the left masticator space. After hospitalizing the patient, needle aspiration confirmed pus in the infratemporal and temporal fossa. Antibiotics were administered, and the abscess was drained through an incision made by the attending physician. The patient's symptoms decreased, and he was discharged.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2011.12a
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• pp.326-329
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• 2011

Mortality associated with maxillofacial infection is relatively low due to the development of antibiotics, and improved oral care. However, inappropriate treatment, delayed treatment, old age, underlying systemic disease, and drug-resistant micro-organisms can potentially result in life threatening situations such as cavernous sinus thrombosis, mediastinitis, and sepsis. Sepsis is the most dangerous state with high mortality, ranging from 20~60%. The treatment of sepsis involves properly monitoring vital functions, fluid resuscitation, surgical drainage, and empirical use of high doses of antibiotics until culture results are available. Ventilatory support maybe be required as well. We encountered a 64-year-old patient who died from sepsis that developed as the result of an odontogenic infection. The initial diagnosis was right temporal, infraorbital, buccal, pterygomandibular space abscess. Despite surgical and medical supportive care, the condition progressed to sepsis and after four days the patient died due to multiple organ failure.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.445-448
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• 2011

Mortality associated with maxillofacial infection is relatively low due to the development of antibiotics, and improved oral care. However, inappropriate treatment, delayed treatment, old age, underlying systemic disease, and drug-resistant microorganisms can potentially result in life threatening situations such as cavernous sinus thrombosis, mediastinitis, and sepsis. Sepsis is the most dangerous state with high mortality, ranging from 20~60%. The treatment of sepsis involves properly monitoring vital functions, fluid resuscitation, surgical drainage, and empirical use of high doses of antibiotics until culture results are available. Ventilatory support maybe be required as well. We encountered a 64-year-old patient who died from sepsis that developed as the result of an odontogenic infection. The initial diagnosis was right temporal, infraorbital, buccal, pterygomandibular space abscess. Despite surgical and medical supportive care, the condition progressed to sepsis and after four days the patient died due to multiple organ failure.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2013

Some odontogenic infections erode into fascial spaces directly and spread toward lymphatic tissues and blood streams. The principal maxillary primary spaces are the canine, buccal, and infratemporal space, the next secondary spaces are the masseteric, temporal and pharygeal space. As a result of the infection, trismus and orocutaneous fistula may be occurred. Trismus is owing to conditions not associated with temporomandibular joint itself and may be of myogenic, neurogenic, or psychogenic nature. Muscular trismus is due to infection adjacent to the elevator muscles of the jaw. The four principles of treatment of infection are as follows: (1) removal of the cause, (2) establishment of drainage, (3) institution of antibiotic therapy, and (4) provision of supportive care, including rest, nutrition and physiotherapy. Jaw physiotherapy is necessary to increase the amount of mouth opening and regain normal muscle tone. If proper care of odontogenic infection could be attained, the orocutaneous fistula will heal and close spontaneously by wound contraction mechanism of natural homeostatic response. This is a case report of the care of trismus and orocutaneous fistula due to fascial space abscess by advanced odontogenic infection in a physically disabled patient.