Removal of a foreign body from the lateral pharyngeal space via trans-tonsillar approach

Abstract

Lateral pharyngeal space (LPS), also called parapharyngeal space (PPS), is one of the important fascial planes of the head and neck, that may become involved by various pathological processes, such as infections, inflammation and neoplasms.1 This space is well known to the oral and maxillofacial surgeons as the area of spreading dental infection, where incision and drainage becomes necessary for keeping absolute respiration and airway, and also as the most difficult space to approach because of the many different kinds of muscles, fascias, vessels and nerves. The calcified stylohyoid ligament with styloid process is also located in this space, so this space is more acquainted with Eagles syndrome to the maxillofacial and plastic surgeons. A 29-year-old female patient who had fallen down in her psychopathic ward was referred to our department for the diagnosis of right condylar neck and left parasymphysis fracture. For reduction of the condylar neck fracture, intraoral re-positioning after external fixation of fractured condyle to the sagittal split proximal segment was tried.