POSTCOVID NECROSIS OF THE MAXILLOFACIAL REGION.

ABSTRACT

The analysis of a clinical case with osteonecrosis of the maxillofacial region, which was a manifestation of a complication of a COVID-19 coronavirus infection, to show the diagnostic capabilities of computed tomography followed by multiplanar and 3D reconstructions. Materials and methods. Clinical observation of patient R. 53 years old is presented, with complaints of pain, painful swelling of the soft tissues of the right suborbital area, painfulness during chewing, which appeared in the early period after COVID-19. The patient was referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery where she underwent comprehensive radiological examination to determine the nature of the changes and comprehensive treatment. Results. The diagnosis of osteonecrosis with the progression to the soft tissue suppuration and upper jaw destruction was verified by CT scan and confirmed by surgical intervention. Detection and detailed diagnosis of these changes was facilitated by multispiral computed tomography and 3D reconstructions during the follow-up. Discussion. COVID-19 coronavirus infection can be complicated by necrosis of the skeletal bones, including the jaw, which can be diagnosed with radiology methods. Various radiological methods can be used to diagnose this pathology, but CT scan of the maxillofacial region is the most informative. Conclusion. CT of the skull bones and facial skeleton in patients with osteonecrosis of the maxillofacial region provides complete diagnostic information about the localization and distribution of the lesion, which determines the further tactics of patient management taking into account the detected changes. As a result, timely initiated adequate treatment helped to cope with the progressing protracted pathological process of the maxillofacial region, which was a manifestation of a complication of the recent COVID-19 coronavirus infection.Copyright © 2022 Russian Electronic Journal of Radiology. All rights reserved.