Mandibular osteomyelitis and Lemierre's syndrome following third molar extraction in a young adult – A case report

Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare condition that involves septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) most commonly as a complication of oropharyngeal bacterial infections. It is even more rare in association with infection following third molar extraction. A 17-year-old male developed septic osteomyelitis with Moraxella osloensis bacteremia and Lemierre’s syndrome resulting in complete occlusion of the IJV following routine third molar extraction. The patient required urgent operative debridement of the mandible as well as long-term antibiotics to treat the osteomyelitis and anticoagulant therapy to treat the IJV occlusion. The patient made a complete recovery. Clinicians should be aware that Lemierre’s syndrome can complicate mandibular osteomyelitis. • We present a rare case of a 17-year-old who developed Lemierre’s syndrome following sepsis from mandibular osteomyelitis after third molar extraction • The patient was treated with urgent operative debridement as well as long-term antibiotics and anticoagulant therapy and made a complete recovery