Barsauskiene-Stundzaite G, Zakaraite J, Vitkus K
Introduction: Facial dog bites injuries are high risk of contamination, complex and cosmetic outcome is at its great importance.
Methods: 81 consecutive patients (46 adults and 35 children) treated for facial dog bite injuries at Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Centre of Vilnius University Hospital, Lithuania between 1993 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The following information recorded: age, number of facial aesthetic units involved, tissue loss, the duration between injury and surgical repair, type of repair, and complications. We divided patients in to two groups for analysis of the results. Patients with one facial aesthetic unit involved and patients with more than one aesthetic unit involved.
Results: First group of the 54 patients (38 adults and 16 children) with one facial aesthetic unit involved. 47 out of 54 wounds were with tissue loss, 7 out of 54 bite wounds without tissue loss. All 7 wounds without tissue loss were directly repaired. Out of 47 wounds with tissue loss 2 were directly repaired, 2 left to heal by secondary intention and 43 required reconstruction surgery with composite graft, skin graft, local or regional flaps. 76% of repairs were performed within 24hours from the injury. 7 complications (13%) were recorded. 1 wound infection after direct closure and 6 out of 7 (86%) complications were composite graft loss. Second group of 27 patients (8 adults and 19 children) with more than one facial aesthetic unit involved. All 14 cases without tissue loss underwent primary closure. Out of 13 wounds with tissue loss 1 repaired directly, 12 required reconstructive surgeries. In this patient group were 5 complications (19%).
Conclusions: Children are more likely to sustain injury to multiple facial aesthetic units following dog bite. Direct repair of facial dog bite injuries is safe.
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