Retrospective Imaging Study of Submandibular Space Infection

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical variables, including demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and anatomical extent, associated with the severity of submandibular space infections and their treatment outcomes. A retrospective analysis was performed on computed tomography scans of patients diagnosed with submandibular space infections. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, anatomical extent of the infection, and treatment details were obtained from electronic health records. The primary outcomes were the degree of infection and the results of the treatment, including hospital length of stay. The existence of complications, such as obstruction of the airway or the need for repeated surgical procedures, was also evaluated. Outcomes were analyzed using χ2 tests and independent-samples t tests. Records of 103 patients were reviewed. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was 39.3 (12.6) years and ranged from 18 to 73 years. Men (52, 50.5%) and women (51, 49.5%) were almost equally affected by infection. For all patients, hypertension (18, 17.4%) and diabetes (11, 10.6%) were the most prevalent systemic conditions. Most patients (93, 90%) had anatomical spread to adjacent facial spaces. Twenty patients (19.4%) had airway narrowing as a complication, which was associated with a longer hospital length of stay (P = 0.04). Infection in the retromolar trigone and submental spaces resulted in repeated surgical procedures (both P < 0.04). In the current study, spreading of infection to the retromolar and submental facial spaces was identified as the variable most strongly associated with increased extent of infection. These results emphasized the importance of early identification and treatment of submandibular space infections and highlighted clinical variables that may impact the infection severity and treatment effectiveness.