Traumatic Tongue Laceration: An Experience of Two Tertiary Centers in South East Nigeria

Traumatic injuries to the orofacial region are common and can be challenging to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The tongue is one of the structures that can be involved; however, the incidence of this injury to the tongue appears rare. Most of the reported work on this topic is on children.

This is a three-year prospective study of traumatic tongue lacerations managed at the oral and maxillofacial centers of two tertiary hospitals in the southeast of Nigeria.

A total of 37 cases with tongue lacerations among 353 patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma constituting a prevalence of 10.5%. Their age ranged from 6 months to 57 years with a mean of 18.4 years (standard deviation 17.5). Twenty three (62.2%) are males and 14 (37.8%) females in a ratio of 1.6:1. The duration of injury on presentation ranged from 45 minutes to 96 hours with a mean duration of 26.7 hours. Majority of the laceration occurred in the anterior part of the tongue (24) (64.9%). Thirteen falls (35.1%) and nine motor vehicle accidents (24.3%) were the most common etiology. Thirty six (97.3%) were sutured primarily on presentation while only one (2.7%) was delayed before closure. Anesthesia was achieved with only Local Anesthetic agent in 18 (48.6%) cases, whereas in 13 (35.1%) cases a combination of Local Anesthetic agent and sedation.

Tongue lacerations are not very common in the southeast of Nigeria, and management in children may require sedation. Treatment could involve suturing the wound or being left alone to heal.