An Amputated Tongue—The Consequences of a Human Bite

Constance Hardwick,James Puryer,Alice Cameron

doi:10.3390/reports3030019

Abstract

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.

Highlights

Nine percent of adults in England reported having taken illicit drugs in 2018 [1], the prevalence of drug use has fallen since 2011, according to the Crime Survey [2]
Opioids remain the greatest cause of health and social harm resulting from illicit drug use, with 371 reported deaths in 2017 being related to cocaine and 63 related to ecstasy [1]
Drug-related hospital attendances resulted in 7358 hospital admissions and alcohol related admissions were 37,000 in 2018 across England; 2503 drug-related deaths were recorded [1]

Summary

Introduction

Nine percent of adults in England reported having taken illicit drugs in 2018 [1], the prevalence of drug use has fallen since 2011, according to the Crime Survey [2]. The face and mouth are common targets for assault and are markers for interpersonal violence due to the face and mouth defining a person’s identity and image [6,7] This case describes the injuries and subsequent management of soft tissue trauma to the tongue of a 55-year-old male who attended a hospital emergency department (ED) following a bite from a female individual. The case highlights the role of illicit drug use in the aetiology of trauma and the impact that it can have on quality of life. This case will be of benefit to clinicians from many disciplines including dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT).

Case Report

Treatment

Findings

Discussion

Conclusions