Facial Laceration: A Fight Against a Bite!

Background: Facial bite injuries can cause functional, emotional, and psychological distress to the victim. Dog bites are the most commonest injuries of all mammalian bites. We as oral and maxillofacial surgeons have reported a case of 75-year-old man with a dog bite injury on his face. Step-wise management of the wound and required anti-rabies therapy has been discussed.

Materials and Methods: The patient was immediately given anti-rabies prophylaxis and thorough debridement of the wound was done with various antiseptic solutions. After satisfactory debridement, margins of the wound were freshened and closure of wound was done with resorbable and non-resorbable sutures. Post-operatively, the patient was put on antibiotic regimen.

Results: Not only esthetic but also functionally acceptable results were achieved. Locally applied antiseptic solutions and anti-rabies prophylaxis proved its efficacy in infection control.

Conclusion: Each bite injury will have different treatment outcomes. Hereby we discuss one of the methods in the management of facial dog bite with most easily available medicaments.