The obtuse angle tongue depressor: physiologic advantages in throat surgery and lesions of the hypopharynx.

The original purpose of the obtuse angle tongue depressor was to open the mouth much wider than the right angle tongue depressor and to expose the lower pole of the tonsil for more complete surgical treatment. However, the later discovery of the physiologic advantages of the obtuse angle tongue blade in opening the mouth became very important. The obtuse angle tongue blade pulls the tongue forward so that benign lesions can be excised as well as adequate biopsies of malignant tumors obtained in most of the hypopharynx. The clinical finding of the small amount of pressure on any part of the tongue when the obtuse angle tongue depressor is used indicates minimum trauma to the patient.