The role of immediate versus secondary removal of the odontogenic focus in treatment of deep head and neck space infections. A retrospective analysis of 248 patients

ConclusionSimultaneous removal of infection focus and abscess incision leads to the lowest LOS. If tooth extraction is performed after incision, subsequent focus extraction performed in a second stay shows lower overall-LOS than extraction at the same stay at later stage.Clinical relevanceMultiple factors tend to increase the LOS of patients with severe head and neck infections of odontogenic origin. Our data reveals the role of removal of odontogenic focus and additionally ranks further parameters that influence the LOS. Based on our findings, decisions regarding the surgical treatment can be recommended.
Source: Clinical Oral Investigations - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research