A practical solution for a broken reconstruction plate

Two Cases of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Comprising Partial Autoamputation of the Apex of the Tongue

The prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adults is lower than that in adolescents and it is more prevalent in patients with psychiatric disorders. Sleep disturbances such as nightmares are associated with NSSI after accounting for depression; thus, persons with major NSSI sometimes present at medical institutions during the night seeking emergency treatment. Gingival tissues comprise the most frequent target of self-injury of the oral cavity using oral hygiene tools. Most NSSI in the oral cavity is minor because such tools are blunt. Major NSSI such as autoamputation of the tongue is rare. We describe two patients who partially autoamputated the apex of their own tongues using edged tools. Case 1 was a 55-year-old female with depression who had defaulted from psychiatric intervention. She had cut off her tongue using a Japanese kitchen knife and presented with the dry, necrotic amputated portion and blood oozing from the remainder of her tongue. We debrided and sutured the remainder of the tongue without reattaching the amputated portion. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and she was free of adverse events such as functional disability and wound infection. Case 2 was a 69-year-old female with schizophrenia who had defaulted from psychiatric intervention and had cut off her tongue using scissors. The amputated portion of the tongue was lost and the remainder, which was oozing blood, was debrided and sutured. She defaulted on a follow-up appointment. Neither of these patients had suicidal intent. The prevalence of NSSI across all age groups has recently increased, and the risk that self-injury will become normalized has become a concern. Thus, dentists as well as oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be aware of the possibility that patients will present with major NSSI requiring emergency treatment.

Successful Revascularization Following Near-Complete Amputation of the Tongue

Successful salvage of the tongue following near or complete traumatic amputation is a rare event. We now report only the second reported successful case of a revascularization of a near or complete amputation of the tongue while in the setting of massive facial trauma. Microscopic revascularization was performed utilizing the left lingual artery and right lingual vein, and despite a prolonged ischemic period, a functional tongue was salvaged. Our patient demonstrated that the tongue can survive up to 16 hours of ischemia. The successful replantation also suggests that arterial blood flow through a single lingual artery and a contralateral single vein may be adequate to perfuse the entire mobile tongue, despite the previously thought avascular median fibrous septum. Tongue revascularization can be performed in the setting of massive facial trauma and large-volume fluid resuscitation.