What is fascial space infection?

Fascial spaces do not exist in a normal healthy individual. These are latent spaces created by distention of tissues secondary to infection from the dental pulp, periodontal tissues and bone, where the infection perforates the cortical plate and discharge into the surrounding spaces.

Where is the submasseteric space?

The submasseteric space, also known as the masseteric space, is the inferolateral subcompartment of the masticator space located between the mandible and masseter muscle.

What is buccal space infection?

Buccal space infections – These arise primarily from mandibular or maxillary bicuspid or molar teeth, the apices of which lie outside of the buccinator muscle attachments. They are readily diagnosed because of marked cheek swelling but with minimal trismus or systemic symptoms (see Figure 4).

What is submandibular abscess?

Submandibular space infection is a rapidly spreading, bilateral, indurated cellulitis occurring in the suprahyoid soft tissues, the floor of the mouth, and both sublingual and submaxillary spaces without abscess formation. Although not a true abscess, it resembles one clinically and is treated similarly.

What is the most common cause of trismus?

“Trismus” is a term used to describe any number of conditions that cause an uncontrolled inability to open the mouth or jaw. The most common cause of trismus is inflammation of the soft tissue of the mouth due to: An impacted molar. Removal of wisdom teeth.

What causes submandibular space infection?

A submandibular space infection is a bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth. Bacteria can spread from an infected lower tooth to the tissue under and around the tongue. People with poor dental hygiene and people who have had a tooth pulled or a jaw fracture are at higher risk.

How do you get a buccal space infection?

Buccal space infections – These arise primarily from mandibular or maxillary bicuspid or molar teeth, the apices of which lie outside of the buccinator muscle attachments. They are readily diagnosed because of marked cheek swelling but with minimal trismus or systemic symptoms (see Figure 4). Figure 5).

What is Masticator space?

The masticator space contains the mastication muscles, ramus of the mandible, and mandibular nerve. Because clinical assessment of lesions in this space may be difficult, CT and MR imaging is important for the characterisation and mapping of the pathology.

What causes an infection of the submasseteric space?

The submasseteric space may be involved by infections that spread from the buccal space. Sometimes mandibular fractures in the region of the angle of the mandible may cause an infection of the submasseteric space.

What is a submasseteric space abscess?

Keywords: Submasseteric space abscess, Modified drainage I. Introduction The submasseteric space is one of three spaces that make up the main masseteric space, the other two being the temporal and the pterygomandibular spaces.

What are the treatment options for submasseteric space infections?

The treatment of a submasseteric space infection is usually by surgical incision and drainage, and the incision is placed intra-orally (inside the mouth) or both intra and extra-orally if other parts of the masticator space are involved.

What is the pathophysiology of masticatory space infections?

The origin of the infection is usually odontogenic, from pericoronitis in a third molar. Submasseteric inflammation is a deep facial space inflammation, often progressing to mature abscess, and usually misdiagnosed as staphylococcal or streptococcal lymphadenitis or pyogenic parotitis. The hallmark of a masticatory space infection is trismus.

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