Surgical Reconstruction of the Severe Tongue Laceration with Mandibular Fracture in a Siberian Husky Dog

A 3-year-old castrated male Siberian husky was presented for evaluation after being hit by a car. On physical examination, the dog showed open-mouth, displacement of mandible and hypersalivation with blood ting. The base of tongue was transected almost 80% on the bias from right dorsal side to the left ventral side. Radiography demonstrated separation of mandible symphysis, and fracture of right condyle and vertical ramus. After debridement of the necrotic tissue, tongue apposition with simple interrupted suture was performed. Mandibular symphysis, condyle and mandibular vertical ramus fractures were fixed using pin, cerclage wire, T-plate, and K-wires. The mouth was irrigated daily using chlorhexidine after surgery. The sutures that were loose here or untied at tongue were re-sutured under sedation. The transected tongue was healed and recovered its normal movement after 6 weeks.