SURGICAL TREATMENT OF FACIAL DOG BITE INJURIES IN A CHILD: REPORT OF A CASE

ABSTRACT

Although today most injuries of face and head are the result of traffic accident, dog bites are a cause of facial injuries in children. In recent years, general guidelines have been established concerning the surgical treatment of facial dog bite injuries in children. Contrary to past beliefs, primary closure of selected bites produces the best outcome for patients without increasing the risk of infection. Special attention is attached to the functional and aesthetic outcome. The purpose of this article is to provide the oral and maxillofacial surgeon about management of facial dog bite injuries and guidelines for effective and rational treatment with review of a literature. We report a case of multiple facial dog bite injuries treated surgically by primary closure of the wound and secondary revision with rotation flap after excision of partial necrotic tissue.