Rapidly Progressive Buccal Hematoma Following Local Anesthetic Injection: A Case Report

TL;DR

A rare case of a rapidly growing cheek hematoma after a dental injection required urgent surgery to prevent airway blockage.

Contribution

Presents a rare clinical case emphasizing the need for urgent surgical intervention in rapidly progressive buccal hematomas.

Findings

A 63-year-old male developed a large buccal hematoma after a local anesthetic injection.

Conservative management failed, necessitating surgical decompression and artery ligation.

The patient recovered with ICU monitoring and was discharged within three days.

Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Local anesthetic injections, routine in dental practice, ensure pain control during procedures like root canal treatments. Though generally safe, they can occasionally cause hematomas, localized blood accumulations in tissue planes. Rapidly expanding hematomas in the head and neck are exceptionally rare but dangerous due to anatomical complexity, potentially threatening the airway. This case report emphasizes the critical need for the prompt recognition and management of such complications to prevent life-threatening outcomes, highlighting vigilance in routine dental procedures. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old male presented with rapidly enlarging right buccal swelling four hours post-local anesthetic injection for a root canal on a right maxillary molar. Examination showed warm, erythematous edema and buccal ecchymosis; a CT scan confirmed a 3.8 cm × 8.4 cm × 5.5 cm buccal space hematoma. His medical history revealed controlled type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia, and his coagulation was normal. Conservative management failed as the hematoma progressed, limiting mouth and eye opening. Urgent surgical decompression under general anesthesia evacuated clots and ligated facial and angular arteries. ICU monitoring ensured airway stability, with discharge on day three with antibiotics and follow-up. Conclusions: This case highlights the rare potential for dental anesthetic injections to cause rapidly progressive hematomas, requiring urgent surgical intervention and multidisciplinary care to prevent airway compromise. Early recognition, imaging, and decisive management are vital in achieving favorable outcomes in such serious complications.

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