Surgical Neck Emphysema Post Elective Tonsillectomy: Case Report and Literature Review

Neck emphysema after tonsillectomy surgery is very rare. We present a case documenting the conservative management of a post-tonsillectomy neck swelling, accompanied by crepitus. Computed tomography revealed a large air density at the region of the right masticator space and the masseter muscle, proximal to other deep neck spaces and muscles. Further investigations of her associated symptoms resulted in an additional diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. We have also explored the signs and symptoms associated with such cases, along with a discussion of the literature published on surgical emphysema post-tonsillectomy.

The diagnostic dilemma of Masticator space tumor

The masticator space is an anatomical and functional entity centered on the mandibular ramus, which divides it into medial and lateral compartments. The masticator spaces considered paired supra-hyoid cervical spaces on each side of the face that extend from the angle of the mandible to the parietal bone. The masticator space contains the mastication muscles, posterior mandible, and mandibular nerve. They are separated from the nasopharynx by the parapharyngeal spaces bilaterally. Primary malignancy of the masticator space is very uncommon.Here we report a diagnostic dilemma of primary masticator space malignancy mistaken by nasopharyngeal carcinoma as the patient 40-year old gentleman presented with left lateral rectus palsy and left nasopharynx fullness.

Innovative Continuous Wound Irrigation Approach for Postoperative Treatment of Masticator Space Abscess

This is a case of an innovative method of continuous irrigation approach for wound care following surgical drainage. Compared with the traditional labor-intensive irrigation, this novel handy method is not only reducing the workload but is also less time-consuming and inexpensive. This continuous irrigation approach is an efficient alternative approach for wound care in deep infection of the head and neck.