Rare Case of Immediate Postoperative Acute Gout Flare Associated With Surgical Management of Facial Abscess of Odontogenic Origin-Case Report.

Abstract

Gout is caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition within joints and periarticular structures. It is characterized by the typical arthritis symptoms such as pain, swelling, and redness usually involving the first metatarsophalangeal joint. Recurrent attacks of gout are common, especially after major surgical procedures during which intense cell turnover takes place and can lead to hyperuricemia and accumulation of monosodium urate crystals. However, there is insufficient evidence about the re-occurrence of gout in patients after surgical interventions in the head and neck area. This case report is the first to describe an immediate acute gout episode after surgical management of a facial abscess involving multiple spaces, associated with severely decayed, nonrestorable lower left molars, in a 58-year-old male patient with a history of gout. It furthermore describes prophylactic measures to prevent the occurrence of gout flares in similar cases.