• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2007

Oral and maxillofacial infection is the oldest and most common disease in human history. The infection ranges from the low-grade infection that only requires minimal treatment to the high-grade and life-threatening fascial space infection. In this study, the data on oral and maxillofacial infections were analyzed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment, and to predict the prognosis. This report was based on data from 831 patients with oral and maxillofacial infection (394 males and 437 females) who were hospitalized in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery of Chosun University Dental Hospital from January 1998 to May 2005. The ratio of males to females was 0.9:1. By age, patients between 60 and 70 years old were the greatest in number (17.1%), while only 5.9% of the patients were between 10 and 20 years old. The most common cause of infection was odontogenic origin (84.4%), followed by post-extraction infection (6.2%), unknown (5.9%), and trauma (3.5%). The most common fascial space involved was the buccal space (39.4%), followed by the canine (20.6%), submandibular (15.9%), pterygomandibular (9.5%), submental (7.6%) and sublingual (2.8%) space. The number of the involved fascial space was one (75.2%), two (19.8%), or more than three (5.0%). In terms of the treatment duration, the hospitalization period of 6 to 10 days was the greatest in number (49.9%). All patients had uneventful recovery without major complication. There are statistically significant correlations between age and treatment period, and the involved space and treatment period, but no correlations between the variables of sex and treatment.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 1998

Disturbances of the interrelationship among the host, environment, microorganism will cause the infection clinically. Infection can be classified into bacterial, viral, fungal origin, Bacterial infection is most common due to dental caries, periodontal disease. These infections have the potential to spread via the fascial spaces in the head and neck region. We have undertaken clinical studies on infections in the oral and maxillofacial regions by analyzing 78 hospitalized patients in the Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dong-A University Hospital from 1994 to 1997. The results were as fellows; l. Odontogenic infections were most common with the incidence of 84.6%. 2. Considering the number of involved space, single space was 83.3%, double or more space was 16.6%. The most common fascial space involved was submandibular space and followed by buccal space, 3. The most causative organism isolated from the pus cultures was streptococci group 35.4%. 4. Antibiotics were administrated in all cases, and surgical incision and drainage was performed in 87.2%. 5. Combined administration of penicillin and aminoglycoside was most common in 34.6%.. 6. 7 cases were diagnosed as Ludwig's angina and tracheostomy was done in 2 cases of them.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.497-503
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• 2004

One of the most difficult problems to damage in dentistry is an odontogenic infection. These infections may range from low-grade, well-localized infections that require only minimal treatment to a severe, life-threatenig fascial space infection. Although the overwhelming majority of odontogenic infections are easily managed by minor surgical procedures and supportive medical therapy that includes antibiotic administration, the practitioner must constantly bear in mind that these infections may become severe in a very short time. We made an investigation was targeting on 78 male and 47 female patients (125 patients in total) who had been hospitalized because of the fascial space abscess on the oral and maxillofacial area and gained a complete recovery in Daegu Catholic University Hospital, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery from January 1999 to December 2003. By tracing their charts, we could grasp the characteristics such as age, gender, the time of breakout and specific areas of the attacks, making a conclusive study of the statistical analysis and finally, we could reach conclusions. Now, we report the conclusion from the investigation with the literature. The proportion of males and females was approximately 3 to 2, and in age group, patients under 10 years old marked the highest, 22.4%. The patients between the age of 10 and 40 were only 14.4%, yet those who were between 40 and 80 marked 53.6% in contrast. In the monthly distribution, the order was Dec.(13.6%)-Sep.(12%)-Jan.(10.4%) and in seasonal distribution, it was winter(30.4%)-fall(28%)- summer(24.4%)- spring(19.2%). Considering the medical history, D.M. was the highest which was 30.3%, hypertension marked 24.4%, and the patients with both D.M. and hypertension were 9.0%. The major cause of infection of oral and maxillofacial areas was odontogenic infection, which marked about 96%, and especially the cases related to dental caries occurred most frequently, which was 51.2%. In the number of relaxed fascial space, single fascial space was 81.6%, and in the degree of relaxation of fascial space, the buccal space abscess marked 40.8%, following submandibular space abscess, which was 30.4%.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.490-496
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• 2000

We have conducted a retrospective study of 224 patients with the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial infection who had been treated between 1988 and 1999 at Gyeong-Sang National University Hospital. This study was aimed to furnish the data of oral and maxillofacial infection and to aid diagnosis and treatment. The most common fascial space involved, as determined by clinical, radiologic, and operative findings, were the submandibular space(39.4%). The most frequent cause of oral and maxillofacial infection was odontogenic 68.8%. In the odontogenic cause, dental caries was the most common cause. Two-hundred three patients required surgical drainage of the abscess. Seventeen patients needed tracheostomy for airway control. The overall mortality was 0.9% despite aggressive anti-microbial therapy and early surgical intervention. All other patients had an uneventful recovery without major complication except osteomyelitis case(6.0%). The combination of early radiologic diagnosis, effective antimicrobial therapy, and intensive surgical management contributed to the good prognosis.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.38 no.1 s.368
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• pp.94-102
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• 2000

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.251-258
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the impact of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level on characteristics and prognosis of maxillofacial fascial infection in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 72 patients (35 patients with HbA1c lower than 7.0% and 37 patients with HbA1c higher than 7.0%) diagnosed with maxillofacial fascial space infection and hospitalized for treatment at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Dankook University Hospital (Cheonan, Korea) from January 2005 to February 2014. We compared demographics, parameters of glucoregulation (HbA1c), laboratory parameters of inflammation (white blood cell [WBC], C-reactive protein [CRP] count), type and number of involved spaces, type and number of antibiotics, period of hospitalization, number of surgical operations, need for tracheostomy, complications, computed tomography (CT), and microorganisms between the two groups. Results: Compared with the well-controlled diabetes mellitus (DM) group (HbA1c <7.0%), patients in the poorly-controlled (HbA1c ${\geq}7.0%$) DM group had the following characteristics: longer hospitalization periods, higher values of laboratory parameters of inflammation (WBC, CRP count) at the time of admission, higher number of antibiotics prescribed, more frequent complications, frequent deep neck space involvement, and distinctive main causative microorganisms. As the HbA1c level increases, hospitalization periods and incidence of complications increase gradually. Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that regulation of DM significantly impacts maxillofacial fascial infection. Poorly controlled DM with high HbA1c level negatively influences the prognosis of infection.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.323-336
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• 1996

This is a retrospective study on the patients with infection of the oral and maxillofacial region with the purpose of obtaining some useful data for diagnosis and treatment plan of that relatively common disease in dentistry. The used materials of study were 87 in total, including 52 male patients, 35 female patients who diagnosed and treated at the Department of the Dentistry in Hanyang Medical College Hospital for the period of Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1994. The author analyzed the distribution and incidence of sex, age, admission period, etiologic factors, etiologic teeth, treatment method of infections, pus culture, antibiotics sensibilities and medication. The result obtained as follows : 1. The developmental incidences by sex was superior in male by the ratio of 1.5 : 1 and the infection was most frequently occurred during the third decades(35.6%). 2. The number of admitted patients elevated in February, March, and April, and average of admission period was 9.8 days. 3. Main etiologic teeth showed on lower molar region in adult(63%) and upper molar region in primary dentition(46.1%). 4. Medications were administrated in all of the cases, and surgical incision and drainage were performed in 53% and extraction of the causative teeth were performed in 63.6% of all cases. 5. The most common involved fascial spaces were Buccal space(41.4%), Infraorbital space(27.6%), Submandibular space(16.1%),in order, and 9 cases(10.3%) were Ludwig's Angina. In 68.2% of the patients, and infection involved only one fascial space and in 21.8% of the patients, it involved to more fascial spaces. 6. The most causative organisms isolated from pus culture were Gram-positive facultative cocci(55.5%), and antibiotics sensitivities on the total isolated bacterial strains were exposed chloramphenicol(88.6%), Cephalothin(88.6%), Erythromycin(81.5%), Lincomycin(77.8%) in order, but it showed resistant on Gentamycin(58.3%), Tetracycline(56.5%), Methicillin(38.5%).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.136-143
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• 2008

Infections involved with the oral and maxillofacial area are associated with various anatomical structures. If the proper treatment is not done in an immediate period, the infections will be quite fatal. The causes of the infections are numerous, but the most common cause of odontogenic infections in children is a dental caries. It is known to lead to some kinds of diseases such as periapical abscess, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, Ludwig's angina, toxic shock syndrome and so on. The common pathogenic sequence of fascial abscess is a necrotic pulpal inflammation in the form of dentoalvelor abscess which spreads over and gradually penetrates into the fascial membranes through the cortical bones and finally contracts the potential fascial spaces. If the infections of oral maxillofacial area were penetrated into the surrounding soft tissues, then they would diffuse into the directions of the least tissue resistance along with the connective tissues and the fascial spaces. These infections can be properly cured by tooth extraction, endodontic therapy, surgical treatment including Incision & drainage and antibiotics. The purpose of the cases is to report the satisfactory treatment results in the patients derived from the canine fascial space abscesss or buccal fascial space ones of the odontogenic origin.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 2010

Odontogenic infections are a normally locally confined, self-limiting process that is easily treated by antibiotic therapy and local surgical treatment. However, it may spread into the surrounding tissues through a perforation of the bone, and into contiguous fascial spaces or planes like the primary or secondary fascial spaces. If the infection extends widely, it may spread into the lateral pharyngeal and retropharyngeal space. The retropharyngeal space is located posterior to the pharynx. If an odontogenic infection spreads into this space, severe life-threatening complications will occur, such as airway obstruction, mediastinitis, pericarditis, pleurisy, pulmonary abscess, aspiration pneumonia and hematogenous dissemination to the distant organs. The mortality rate of mediastinitis ranges from 35% to 50%. Therefore, a rapid evaluation and treatment are essential for treating retropharyngeal space abscesses and preventing severe complications. Recently, we encountered two cases of a retropharyngeal space abscess due to the spread of an odontogenic infection. In all patients, early diagnosis was performed by computed tomography scanning and a physical examination. All patients were treated successfully by extensive surgical and antibiotic therapy.

• 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.