British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 36, Issue 6 , Pages 462-464, December 1998

Medicinal leeches used to salvage a traumatic nasal flap

  • B.W. Mortenson, DMD, MS (Resident)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery The University of Washington Seattle Washington, USA
    • ,
  • K.H. Dawson, BDS, MDSc, FRACDS(OMS) (Assistant Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery The University of Washington Seattle Washington, USA
    • ,
  • C. Murakami, MD (Assistant Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence and requests for offprints to: Kenneth Dawson Assistant Professor, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, # 357134, The University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195-7134, USA
    • Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery The University of Washington Seattle Washington, USA

Received 4 September 1996; accepted 20 May 1997.

Abstract 

We report a case in which medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) were used to rescue a traumatic nasal flap from venous congestion and loss. A healthy 18-year-old had a bicycling accident and, in addition to other facial injuries, presented with a complex full thickness nasal laceration. After he had been resuscitated and the flap sutured, he was treated with two leeches four times a day for 48 h. His recovery was satisfactory and uncomplicated. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should be familiar with the use of leeches, as they have a small but occasionally important role in the management of both traumatic and reconstructive flaps.

No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0266-4356(98)90465-X

British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Volume 36, Issue 6 , Pages 462-464, December 1998

Article Tools