Tongue laceration

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Background

  • Secondary to tongue biting
  • Serious injuries can cause hemorrhage and potential airway compromise

Clinical Features

  • Examine for other injuries, missing teeth, embedded foreign bodies

Differential Diagnosis

Tongue diagnoses

Management

  • Do not need primary repair unless >1 cm in length, widely gaping, involving tip, or large hemorrhage
    • Use absorbable sutures
    • Anesthesia of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue is obtained through an inf alveolar block
    • Chlorhexidine mouth wash to prevent infection

Disposition

See Also

References