@article{ref1,
title="Traumatic tongue laceration: an experience of two tertiary centers in South East Nigeria",
journal="Nigerian journal of clinical practice",
year="2023",
author="Okechi, U. C. and Umeanuka, O. T. and Akpeh, J. O.",
volume="26",
number="5",
pages="612-616",
abstract="BACKGROUND: 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. <br><br>PATIENTS AND METHODS: 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. <br><br>RESULT: 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. <br><br>CONCLUSION: 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1119-3077",
doi="10.4103/njcp.njcp_687_22",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_687_22"
}