Wounds in the tongue

Author: doctor Iordanskaya A.V.

More often injuries of a traumatic nature in the tongue have the appearance of superficial wounds resulting from a bite (during chewing or epileptic seizure) traumatizing the sharp edge of a broken or carious tooth, bone from food, or sharp objects, such as a fork, pencil, etc.

In children, with respiratory diseases accompanied by a severe cough, bruises and abrasions often occur on the bridle of the tongue, and more serious injuries can occur if the tongue protrudes beyond the front teeth during a fit of coughing. For children, however, superficial wounds of the tongue appear when applied to cold metal objects or cut wounds inflicted by sharp, hard grasses. The injury of the tongue with the teeth can also be a consequence of a bruise of the lower jaw that occurs when the impact is struck. A burn of the tongue (chemical or thermal) can cause the appearance of ulcers and blisters on its surface, leading eventually to the development of scar deformities of the organ that disrupt its functioning.

Treatment of shallow wounds of the tongue suggests:

· Removal of injurious foreign bodies;

· Washing of the mouth with a solution of antiseptic ("manganese", boric acid, hydrogen peroxide, furacilin), decoction of chamomile;

· Treatment of the wound with alcohol tincture of iodine or 1% solution of "green";

Often the complication of superficial wounds of the tongue becomes the appearance in their place, the so-called aphth (ulceration). With timely prescribed adequate treatment with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs and in the event of elimination of the traumatic cause, healing takes place within two weeks. If the aphids are small and do not cause much anxiety, you can do without treatment at all, but you should watch the healing process, so as not to miss the development of more serious complications in their place.

Less often, but still more serious injuries of the tongue with damage to deeper tissues with the possible development of complications such as phlegmon and abscesses. Gunshot wounds of the language are rarely isolated (single), most often in such situations, there are wounds of the soft tissues of the mouth and face, and also possible damage to bone structures, for example, jaws and zygomatic bones. In such cases, complications such as bleeding and asphyxia (dysfunction of breathing) are the main and very dangerous for the life of the victim. In addition, fragments of damaged bones can penetrate into the thickness of the tongue and, being stuck there, they can cause the development of purulent inflammation with the formation of a long-term fistula.

Deep cut and gunshot wounds of the tongue require primary surgical treatment, the result of which is suturing. Bleeding, which develops with a serious wound of the tongue, is stopped with the help of a tight tamponade of the wound or superimposed on it special hemostatic clamps, if these measures can not be performed, you can press the common carotid artery (only from the side of damage!) To the cervical vertebrae. All other measures, including complete stopping of bleeding, are performed in a hospital.

The development of an abscess, a site filled with purulent contents, in the thickness of the tissues of the tongue can be suspected by the appearance of a limited painful swelling that hampers speech and swallowing. With the development of phlegmon, all the signs of inflammation are more pronounced, the size of the tongue increases noticeably, even to the point that movement and swallowing become impossible, breathing is hampered, and as a result, the general condition of the sufferer, possibly even severe, worsens significantly. In this case, urgent hospitalization is needed, since treatment of these complications requires surgical intervention, as well as a course of antibiotic therapy and general restorative treatment. Locally, they can prescribe rinsing the mouth with a solution of "manganese" (the concentration will be indicated by the doctor), inhalation with a solution of drinking soda (1 tsp per glass of water). It is important to remember that dying wounds are more prone to complications ..

The consequence of wounds of the tongue is often a loss of taste, a lack of sensitivity on the surface of the organ, of more serious ones can be noted paralysis, speech disorders and serious deformities.