TY - JOUR
AR - JSCR-2022-1-105
TI - Tongue Bite Injury Resulting from Intra-operative Neuromonitoring during Posterior Scoliosis Corrective Surgery Not an Uncommon Complication: Case Report and Literature Review
AU - Lim Han, Sim
AU - Khoh Phaik, Shan
AU - Chan Sook, Kwan
AU - Zairul Anuar B Kamarul, Bahrin
JO - Surgery Case Reports
PY - 2022
DA - Thu 07, Jul 2022
SN - 2733-225X
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.JSCR.2022.01.05
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/tongue-bite-injury-resulting_JSCR-2022-1-105 
KW - Tongue laceration, motor evoked potential, transcranial motor evoked potential, spine deformity, bite block
AB - Tongue bite injuries (TBI) resulting from the use of intra-operative neuromonitoring (IONM) during spinal surgeries are not as uncommon a complication as previously thought, especially when using transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP). The incidence of bite injuries ranged from 0.14% to 0.63%, with TBI occurring four times more frequently than lip injuries, and of these, 0.15% of tongue lacerations required surgical repair. Through our literature search, we discovered that these injuries have never been reported in Malaysia; additionally, this is the first incidence encountered by our team. We are reporting a 20-year-old male who sustained a TBI during posterior scoliosis corrective surgery while using TcMEP. We report on its management and reviewed literatures to explain the causes and the recommendations for the prevention of this injury. In conclusion, TBI is an unpleasant complication in spinal surgery related to the use of IONM. Safety precautions need to be taken during surgical preparation, and we propose using two to three soft bite blocks (SBB) to aid in reducing the rate of this complication.