An Amputated Tongue—The Consequences of a Human Bite

• Main Authors: Constance Hardwick, Alice Cameron, James Puryer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
• Series: Reports
• Subjects: trauma; tongue; drug
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-841X/3/3/19

Drug-related hospital admissions are common, and up to 25% of patients presenting to emergency departments with injuries test positive for alcohol and drug use. This case reports on a 55-year-old male who attended the emergency department (ED) at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK. He presented after sustaining significant soft tissue trauma to his tongue, following recreational drug use of an unknown substance. His injuries included the amputation and loss of the anterior third of his tongue, having suffered a bite from another individual. This unusual case describes the patient’s injuries and subsequent management, both in the emergency department and during follow-up. This case will be of benefit to clinicians from many disciplines including dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ENT surgeons and speech and language therapists.