B-ENT
Case Report

To be or knot to be: sudden sublingual hematoma caused by tying a traditional headscarf

1.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology with Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Zemun, Serbia

2.

Division of Otorhinolaryngology with Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia

3.

Department of Hematology, Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Zemun, Serbia

4.

Division of Internal Medicine, University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia

B-ENT 2020; 16: 176-179
DOI: 10.5152/B-ENT.2020.20026
Read: 1091 Downloads: 614 Published: 11 February 2021

Sublingual hematoma is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition usually associated with oral anticoagulant therapy or orofacial trauma. A 77-year old female was seen at our department for sudden and progressive hematoma involving the sublingual and submental spaces, without a history of coagulopathy, oral anticoagulant therapy, or major trauma. However, there was a history of repeated mechanical pressure under the chin caused by a headscarf, worn as a part of the traditional folk wear. Coagulation screening revealed a decrease in vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors and an increase in the international normalized ratio, which was considered to be a result of previous prolonged antibiotic treatment for urinary infection, followed by a diarrheic syndrome. The patient was treated with fresh frozen plasma and vitamin K, without the need for active airway management. We have suggested that specifically located and repeated mechanical pressure of low intensity leads to hematoma formation in a patient with coagulation disorder. Airway maintenance and coagulopathy reversal were the mainstay of treatment.

Cite this article as: Cukic O, Cvetkovic Z, Poljovka R, Jovanovic M. To be or knot to be: sudden sublingual hematoma caused by tying a traditional headscarf. B-ENT 2020; 16(3): 176-9.

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