Description

A 28-year-old woman with a history of snorting heroin and cocaine was admitted with facial cellulitis secondary to a dental phlegmon. She reported rhinolalia, occasional nasal regurgitation of food and a burning sensation in her nose and throat while eating. She self-medicated with a topical application of crushed acetaminophen and oxycodone tablets to her throat to prevent discomfort while eating.

Physical examination revealed poor dentition, palatal destruction, absent soft palate and a white substance (acetaminophen powder) at the posterior pharyngeal wall and buccal mucosa (figure 1). Contrast-enhanced CT scanning revealed palatal perforation with complete absence of soft palate, absent nasal septum and a communication between the oropharynx, the nasopharynx and the left maxillary sinus (figure 2A–C). Her odontogenic abscess was treated with clindamycin and she was referred for surgical reconstruction of the palate.

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Figure 1

A view of her oral cavity revealed poor dentition, hard palatal perforation, absent soft palate and the presence of a whitish substance (acetaminophen) on the posterior pharyngeal wall and buccal mucosa.

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Figure 2

(A) CT scan (cranio-facial view) reveals a communication between the oropharynx, the nasopharynx and the left maxillary sinus (oro-naso-sinus fistula). (B) Sagittal view reveals complete absence of the soft palate. (C) Coronal view reveals a naso-sinus communication, and a palatal tear.

The vasoconstrictive and caustic effects, resulting from the snorting of recreational drugs, especially cocaine, can produce direct irritation and ischaemia of the nasopalatine mucosa, leading to the creation of an oro-nasal perforation secondary to maxillary bone destruction.1 ,2 Management consists of a combination of antibiotics, analgesics, prostheses (obturators) and surgical reconstruction of the defect.2

Our case represents a very rare complication sustained from the deleterious effects of cocaine, ‘oro-naso-sinus fistula’ rather than just an oronasal fistula.