Subcutaneous Emphysema — NDEB AFK MCQ
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Correct answer: D — Forced air from a high-speed handpiece entering the tissue planes through the extraction socket
Subcutaneous emphysema (crepitus on palpation) during dental extraction most commonly results from forced air from a high-speed air-driven handpiece entering the tissue planes through a surgical wound, tooth socket, or perforation. It can also occur from nose blowing or use of an air syringe. While usually self-limiting, it can spread along fascial planes into the mediastinum (pneumomediastinum) — a rare but serious complication. Management includes antibiotics (to prevent secondary infection of the emphysematous tissue), observation, and possibly CT if extensive.
Reference: Hupp – Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 7th ed., 2019