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| Triangular Area of Facial Skin |
The Triangular Area of Facial Skin including :
- Upper lip
- Nose
- Medial angle of eyes
Are considered as dangerous area of face. If this area became infected, the infection would spread to cavernous sinus and causing its thrombosis.
Deep communication of anterior facial vein in connected with cavernous sinus via two routes.
1st Route :
- Facial vein is connected to superior opthalmic vein which then drains in the cavernous sinus.
2nd Route :
- Facial vein is connected to pterygoid venous plexus through deep facial vein.
- Then, the pterygoid venous plexus is connected to cavernous sinus via three emissary veins.
Causes of cavernous sinus thrombosis ( from http://www.nhs.uk )
The most common cause of cavernous sinus thrombosis is when an infection in another part of the skull, such as the eye, nose or ears, spreads into the cavernous sinuses.
The two infections most commonly associated with a cavernous sinus thrombosis are:
- Sinusitis, which is an infection of the small, air-filled cavities behind the cheekbones and forehead
a boil, which is a large painful pus-filled swelling or lump that develops on the face
- Attempting to squeeze a boil can sometimes result in an infection spreading into the cavernous sinuses.
The immune system will create a blood clot to prevent the infection from spreading further into the body.
However, the clot will usually block the flow of blood away from the brain through the jugular vein. This blockage increases the pressure on the brain and blood can also flow back up into the brain, both of which can damage the brain, as well as the eyes and the central nervous system.
In addition, the immune system, despite the blood clot, is normally ineffective in preventing the spread of infection out of the skull and into the rest of the body.
So the infection often spreads through the blood stream causing multiple organ failure, which is known as blood poisoning or sepsis.
Other causes
Other less common causes of cavernous sinus thrombosis include:
- A severe head injury that results in a blood clot. This is thought to be the second most common cause.
- An infection spreading from a tooth or gum infection .
- Having a health condition or other underlying factor that makes you more prone to blood clots - the most common being pregnancy.
- People who have conditions that cause inflammation (swelling) inside their body, such as lupus or Behçet’s disease, can occasionally develop blood clots.
- Some types of medication, such as the contraceptive pill or the medications used in hormone replacement therapy, can cause blood clots as a side effect, though this is very rare.
Points to Remember
- Use a clean tissue to clean something from your nose instead of picking it with fingers. Nasal passage can be cleaned using nasal rinses.
- Instead of plucking your nose hair, use a nose trimmer.
- Do not squeeze or pick the pimples or zits in this area. Use emollient jelly instead.
- Facial piercings may also give problems.
Wallahua'lam.
-MrHope-
25 October 2012
11:50 a.m
