Retrospective Investigation Of Patients With Maxillofacial Space Infection

Objectives:1. Our objectives were to investigate epidemiological characteristic ofmaxillofacial space infection (MSI) patients.2. To identify potential risk factors associated with life-threatening complications，and to discuss the factors that influenced life-threatening complications of MSI。Mererials and Methods:1. A retrospective study was conducted in102patients diagnosed withmaxillofacial space infection of oral and maxillofacial region treated at the Departmentof Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of First Affiliated Hospital Dalian MedicalUniversity between2003and2012. Theses patients Meet the following conditions：1)the process of treatment is complete2) the medical record is complete3) the return visitthat is in clinic or by telephone about six months after discharge.2. All of the data is provided by the record room of First Affiliated HospitalDalian Medical University. To investigate age, gender, occupation, source of infectionand treatment were analyzed in102cases to study the epidemiological characteristics.And to investigate admission white blood cell count, admission temperature,self-medication (antibiotics or pain medicine), the time from onset of symptoms untilpresentation, symptoms and signs, underlying systemic diseases, etiology, treatmentswere analyzed to study risk factors of MSI life-threatening complication.Results:1. The finding of the sample with102cases showed the proportion of the patients＞65years old was the topmost; Patients were divided into five social classes accordingto their occupation: farmer(34.3%), worker(26.5%), student(5.9%), staff(20.6%), andother(12.9%);The most common cause was odontogenic infection (48.0%). 2. There were45patients with age>60years old, of which29cases withlife-threatening complications. The number of diabetic patients was21cases, of which10cases were accompanied by life-threatening complications. There were48patientswith longer than7days before admission, including22patients with life-threateningcomplications. Our study found that53patients had self-medicated before admission, ofwhich23cases were accompanied by life-threatening complications. There were89patients with admission white blood cell count≥10×109/L, of which38cases withlife-threatening complications. The number of patients with high fever was39cases, ofwhich21cases were accompanied by life-threatening complications.Conclusion：1. The main populations of the MSI onset is the elderly over the age of60. Themost common occupation is farmer. Odontogenic infection is the main cause factors ofMSI.2. The risk factors of MSI life-threatening complications include Advanced age,diabetes mellitus,too long time before admission, self-medication, admission whiteblood cell count≥10×109/L and high fever. The management of MSI should be moreaggressive when the above risk factors are present, in order to avoid life-threateningcomplications.3. Considering the poor medical conditions in the rural areas, standard dental careand services should be provided in the future to replace self-medication.