Secondary Healing Following Trauma-Induced Partial Glossectomy: Case Report of an Arabian Horse

Abstract

The tongue serves as an organ of food prehension, mastication, grooming, deglutition, taste, and vocalization, and is suspected to play a role in upper airway stability. A seven-year-old riding horse, weighing 350 kg and employed for load-carrying purposes, was brought to Atatürk University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hospital due to a transversal injury in the rostral part of the tongue caused by trauma from the bridle's rope. During the general examination, it was observed that the tongue protruded outside the mouth, there was a presence of necrotic odor, paralysis in the apex lingualis region, and bloodstains on the mouth corner and front limbs. After the removal of the tongue tissue, debridement of the necrotic areas in the remaining caudal portion was performed, and it was left for secondary wound healing. Postoperatively, intramuscular injections of 200,000 IU benzylpenicillin procaine were administered every 24 hours for 7 days, along with flunixin meglumine given for 3 days. Additionally, a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate solution was used as an oral antiseptic three times daily for a duration of 7 days. Daily phone calls were made to the patient owner to inquire about the overall condition of the patient. Upon the follow-up appointment on the seventh day, improvement in the healing of the tongue was observed.