Background: Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed and relatively safe surgical procedure. However, it can potentially be associated with several complications. We report a case of facial subcutaneous emphysema that occurred after elective tonsillectomy.Case: Tonsillectomy was performed on a patient with a history of frequent tonsillitis. After surgery, the patient developed facial subcutaneous emphysema that resolved within a few days without any further complications.Conclusion: Subcutaneous emphysema is a rare complication of tonsillectomy. Tonsil should be removed along the tonsilar capsule. If its removal causes a deeper than usual mucosal tear up to the level of the muscles, then air might potentially pass through the pharyngeal wall to the parapharyngeal, retropharyngeal and prevertebral spaces. © 2014 Bizaki et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
CITATION STYLE
Bizaki, A., Kääriäinen, J., Harju, T., & Rautiainen, M. (2014). Facial subcutaneous emphysema after tonsillectomy. Head and Face Medicine, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-160X-10-11
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