Reconstructing Facial Animal Bite Injury - A Case Report

Abstract

Children’s small stature and exposed posture make their face particularly susceptible to animal bites where the attacking animal’s saliva injects an inoculum of dangerous germs into the deep punctured wound making it highly susceptible to infection, which is worsen by the presence of devitalized tissue that has been crushed by the bite force. Appropriate wound debridement, administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-rabies and anti-tetanus vaccinations as well as primary closure; are the main components of effective management. Our article is devoted to discuss the surgical mangment of a 17-year-old male patient who suffered from a wolf bite involving the anterior and lateral regions of the face (superficial and deep). Primary repair of the lacerated facial wound in addition to restoration of the continuity of the disrupted Stenson’s duct had effectively resorted functional and aesthetic aspects together with prevention of salivary complications, aiming at promoting our realization about individualized, interdisciplinary mangment of such cases.