Post-COVID Mucormycosis of Mandible: A Conundrum of Management

Mucormycosis is an acute invasive infection of paranasal sinuses, with the propensity to spread from paranasal sinuses to intra-orbital and cranium. It is usually associated with immunocompromised states like diabetes mellitus, hematological malignancies, long-term steroids, neutropenia, and other multiple systemic disorders. Mucormycosis cases had been upsurging following COVID-19 infection. Due to the rampant use of steroids, pulmonary involvement secondary to cytokine upsurge, and deranged blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, mucormycosis of paranasal sinuses and neighboring anatomical structures has occurred at an unprecedented rate. The isolated involvement of the mandible is infrequent, and very few cases have been reported in the literature. We report one such case of post-COVID-19 isolated mandibular mucormycosis and its management. Generally, surgical excision and reconstruction of defect followed by a course of broad-spectrum antifungals are described as the appropriate line of management for this condition. However, on the contrary, we followed conservative management as the sole treatment because of the various challenges concerning undesirable postoperative consequences and reducing morbidity for the patient.