Department of Oral Surgery, School of Dentisty, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
Abstract
Subcutaneous emphysema is a rare complication in the dental practice, including oral surgical procedures. This paper presents a case of intra-operative face and neck emphysema accompanied with double vision. A 23-year-old male was referred to our department for the removal of a horizontally impacted third molar of the mandible. The surgical procedure was performed under local anesthesia. During the separation of the tooth crown from the root, the patient complained of swelling of the right face and neck. Just after the operation, diffuse swelling of the right face and neck with a cracking or crepitant feeling on palpation was seen. In addition, double vision was noticed. The lesion was diagnosed as subcutaneous and intraorbital emphysema, and preventative antibiotic was administrated. The double vision disappeared three days after the surgery and the swelling disappeared completely after seven days
