Surgical management of severe facial trauma after dog bite: A case report

Abstract

Dog-bite injuries are regularly treated in emergency departments. Every bite wound is unique, and thus requires a customized treatment plan. Here, we report the case of a 27-year-old woman who was transferred to the main hospital of Vienna due to a facial dog-bite injury. Primary closure of the wound was possible. The patient received amoxicillin–clavulanate as antimicrobial therapy, and was vaccinated against tetanus, polio, pertussis and diphtheria due to her unknown immunization status. At 183 days after the attack, the aesthetic outcome and nasal ventilation were satisfactory. Based on the reconstructive ladder for wound closure, more severe injuries may require skin or composite grafts, distant or local flaps and microsurgical procedures. Anti-infective therapy against tetanus, rabies and other bacteria also represents a central pillar of dog-bite injury treatment. This case report adds to the knowledge about dog-bite injuries and the required individual multidisciplinary treatment approach.