[Brain abscess and diffuse cervico-facial cellulitis: complication after mandibular third molar extraction].

The authors report a case of cervico-facial cellulitis with brain abscess after mandibular third molar removal. This is the observation of a 26 years old boy surgically treated for a cervico-facial cellulitis ten days after a third molar's removal. He was given anti-inflammatory drugs after removal for analgesia. After a phase of clinical improving, the patient developed pulmonary and brain abscess with neurological signs. He needed neurosurgery in emergency. After eight weeks of antibiotic treatment, the patient was cured with aftereffects (jaw constriction and sensory disorders of the right thigh). Cerebro-meningeal complications of diffuse cervico-facial cellulitis are exceptional but are responsible for heavy aftereffects. This observation confirms that using anti-inflammatory drugs for analgesia is associated with a higher rate of complications after dental removal.