Fascial Spaces Flashcards
There is evidence that the incidence of dental abscesses is related to ______________________.
socio-economic deprivation
Give an example of a serious and potentially life- threatening complication of dental sepsis
Spread of infection into fascial spaces of the neck
What is the most common cause of fascial space infection in adults?
odontogenic infections
What is the most common cause of fascial space infections in children?
tonsilitis
Aside from those of odontogenic origin, give other causes of fascial space infections
- salivary gland infection
- trauma
- post-operative infection
- complications related to congenital abnormalities of the neck such as infected thyroglossal duct cyst
What are the potential consequences of a spread of infections through the fascial spaces
- risk to airway
- systemic compromise
- cardiovascular collapse
Infections in the fascial spaces in the neck can spread to … (name areas)
- mediastinal or pleural cavities
- peri-orbital or orbital tissues
- carvenous sinus
How can infections in fascial spaces in the neck spread to the carvenous sinus?
they can travel through the facial vein
What is an abscess?
localised collection of pus
What is cellulitis?
inflammation of the subcutaneous tissues with no significant localisation of pus. It may later organise to form an abscess
Subcutaneous tissue- tissue in deepest layer of the skin
Define sepsis
The presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome
- temperature: <36/>38
- pulse rate >90 per minute
- respiratory rate >20 per minute
- white cell count <4 or >12 x 10^9/L
- plus a confirmed infection
What is dysphagia?
subjective sensation of difficulty swallowing
What is dyspnoea?
subjective sensation of difficulty breathing
What is fascia?
fascia is loose connective tissue that lies beneath the skin, envelops the muscles and invests the internal organs
The vital structure of the neck are invested in _________ fascia
cervical
What are the layers of the cervical fascia?
- superficial layer
- deep layers
Briefly describe the location of the superficial cervical fascia
it lies just deep (beneath?) to the subcutaneous tissue and surrounds the whole neck. It invests the platysma muscle
What are the layers of the deep cervical fascia?
- investing layer of deep cervical fascia
- middle layer
- deep layer
What does the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia surround?
- the entire neck
- envelops sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles
What deep cervical fascia layer divides to form capsules of the submandibular and parotid salivary glands?
the investing layer
The middle layer is also known as …
the preveterbral layer
The middle layer extends from the base of the thoracic cavity to become continuous with the …
pericardium
The middle layer invests…
- pharynx
- larynx
- trachea
- oesophagus
- thyroid glands
- strap muscles
The deep layer surrounds…
- spine
- paravetebral muscles
Between the deep fascia layers, there are spaces which contain…
loose connective tissue
What are the fascial spaces above the hyoid bone?
- sub- masseteric space
- sub-lingual space
- sub-mandibular space
- parotid space
- pharyngeal space
- parapharyngeal space (lateral pharyngeal space)