A CASE OF UPPER AIRWAY NARROWING CAUSED BY A HEMATOMA IN THE PARAPHARYNGEAL SPACE ASSOCIATED WITH MANDIBULAR FRACTURE

Abstract

　　We experienced a 17-year-old male patient with upper airway narrowing caused by a rare hematoma in the parapharyngeal space associated with a mandibular fracture. He was initially admitted to another hospital following a traffic accident. He had sustained fractures of the mandible and right femur, and his general condition was stable. About 24 hours after the accident, he developed severe stridor, cyanosis and dyspnea, and emergency orotracheal intubation was performed. Neck CT scan revealed a hematoma in the parapharyngeal space. He underwent a tracheostomy the following day. After operative fixation of his fractures, his subsequent clinical course was uneventful.

　　Patients should be carefully monitored for upper airway narrowing caused by a hematoma in the parapharyngeal space if they have sustained cervical injuries or mandibular fractures within 24 hours.