The value of early intraoral incisions in patients with perimandibular odontogenic maxillofacial abscesses

Perimandibular abscesses require drainage and removal of the underlying cause of infection. Traditionally drainage was established extraorally, but this can be associated with delay to treatment, because this is done under general anaesthesia. Between July 2008 and June 2013, 205 patients were initially either treated by immediate intraoral incision under local anaesthesia or extraoral incisions under general anaesthesia and prospectively evaluated. Predictors of treatment outcomes and complications were analysed. Fewer secondary procedures were needed for patients with primary treatment under general anaesthesia (p < 0.0001), but the overall stay in hospital was shorter after initial treatment under local anaesthesia (p < 0.0001, Odds Ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% CI 0.62–0.85). Postoperative complications occurred significantly more often under general anaesthesia (p < 0.0001, OR = 16.63, 95% CI 5.59–49.5). Significant prognostic variable was the administration of amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid (p = 0.016, OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.09–1.41) and adverse prognostic factors were infections with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (p = 0.048, OR 17.45, 95% CI 1.02–298) or diabetes mellitus (p = 0.003, OR 10.39, 95% CI 2.23–48.41). Amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid showed a significant impact on the treatment course of patients with perimandibular abscesses.