Traumatic Bull Gore Injuries to Oropharynx- A Case Report

Abstract

Bull gore injury is not an uncommon injury comprises 2% among the traumatic injuries, especially in the rural area. The damage is predominantly caused by the animal's horn tip. The abdomen and perineum are the most commonly affected organs; additional organs include the lower limb, upper limb, chest, and others. Palatal lacerations are more common in children when they put objects in their mouth or by falling down with the object inside, but oropharyngeal injuries due to bull gore are scarce. Authors hereby reports two cases, in first case, a 3-year-old female child was brought with alleged history of injury to the soft palate by the horn of a cow. The tensor veli palatine muscle tear was repaired, submucosa and mucosal layer was sutured. In second case, a 62-year-old male came with alleged history of trauma, hit by a bull while driving two wheeler following which patient had deep laceration in the submental region, laceration in the floor of mouth and ventral surface of tongue. The mylohyoid muscle injury was identified and repaired. The wound was closed in layers from muscle to skin. Thus, bull gore injuries have a wide range of presentation from minor lacerations to life threatening injuries to oral cavity, neck, chest and abdomen. Timely admission and prompt treatment, repair of lacerations under proper sterile environment is important.

Keywords

• perforation
• repair
• soft palate
• trauma