Emphysema and similar situations in and around the maxillo-facial region

The introduction of air into the soft tissues surrounding the maxillofacial region is the subject of this report. We present seven cases varying from emphysema following dental manipulation, severe facial trauma, with and without clinical or radiographic evidence of fracture, to a case that resulted in blindness and another case that required emergency tracheostomy. We propose the modification of the term emphysema so as to include the entry of air into the brain by the same mechanism.