Management of Traumatic Herniation of Buccal Fat Pad in a 22-month-old Child: A Case Report

Bhawana Sigdel,Mamta Dali,Sneha Shrestha,Amita Rai,Ashish Shrestha,Bandana Koirala

doi:10.3126/jnapd.v1i1.41397

Abstract

The buccal fat pad is an encapsulated mass located within the buccal facial spaces. It is relatively large in neonate and infants. A tiny perforation on buccal mucosa, fascia or buccinator muscle can lead to the herniation of buccal fat pad in young children. Trauma is the most common etiology. Such situation demands careful examination of oral cavity and thorough history taking to avoid any misdiagnosis. This paper reports a clinical presentation and management of herniation of buccal fat pad on a 22-month-old-girl following trauma to her left cheek region with sugarcane.

Highlights

Buccal fat pad is a specialized type of adipose tissue that serves to line the masticatory space, separating muscles of mastication from each other and from the zygomatic arch and the ramus of mandible
Herniation of buccal fat pad is managed by different approaches
Alternative to excision, in cases where there is early evaluation and the protruded mass is small with minimal inflammatory changes, repositioning of the herniated mass to its anatomic position followed by primary closure can be done

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Buccal fat pad is a specialized type of adipose tissue that serves to line the masticatory space, separating muscles of mastication from each other and from the zygomatic arch and the ramus of mandible. It has got four processes: buccal, pterygoid, superficial, and deep temporal processes. Bichat (1802) first described the true fatty nature of buccal fat pad.3 Earlier, it was accidentally encountered during various operations in the maxillofacial region and had little importance.. Management of Traumatic Herniation of Buccal Fat Pad in a 22-month-old Child: A Case Report. Sigdel et al Management of Traumatic Herniation of Buccal Fat Pad in a 22-month-old Child: A Case Report. It showed aggregates of numerous normal adipocytes with peripherally placed nuclei and central vacuolization in a fibrous connective tissue along with numerous endothelial cells lined blood vessels and dispersed inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes (Figure 6)

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS