Uvular injury: A narrative review.

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Anesthesiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Uvular injury is a rare but significant complication of airway and pharyngeal manipulation.
• It occurs across various medical specialties, including anesthesiology, otolaryngology, and emergency medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the embryological origin, anatomy, pathophysiology, management, and prevention of uvular injury.
• To outline current understanding and identify gaps in standardized management protocols.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of case reports and series.
• Literature search conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar from 1978 to 2025.

Main Results:

• Common etiologies include mechanical injury, infection, drug reactions, and idiopathic causes.
• Symptoms range from sore throat and dysphagia to airway obstruction; physical findings vary from edema to avulsion.
• Conservative management with analgesics and anti-inflammatories is typically effective, with most injuries resolving within two weeks.

Conclusions:

• Uvular injuries usually resolve with conservative care, with surgical intervention rarely needed.
• Preventative measures focus on careful instrumentation and patient positioning.
• Standardized management guidelines and grading systems are lacking, necessitating further research.