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CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2013; 40(06): 705-710
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2013.40.6.705
Original Article

An Analytical Study of Mammalian Bite Wounds Requiring Inpatient Management

Young-Geun Lee
Department of Plastic Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
Seong-Ho Jeong
Department of Plastic Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
Woo-Kyung Kim
Department of Plastic Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Background Mammalian bite injuries create a public health problem because of their frequency, potential severity, and increasing number. Some researchers have performed fragmentary analyses of bite wounds caused by certain mammalian species. However, little practical information is available concerning serious mammalian bite wounds that require hospitalization and intensive wound management. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to perform a general review of serious mammalian bite wounds.

Methods We performed a retrospective review of the medical charts of 68 patients who were referred to our plastic surgery department for the treatment of bite wounds between January 2003 and October 2012. The cases were analyzed according to the species, patient demographics, environmental factors, injury characteristics, and clinical course.

Results Among the 68 cases of mammalian bite injury, 58 (85%) were caused by dogs, 8 by humans, and 2 by cats. Most of those bitten by a human and both of those bitten by cats were male. Only one-third of all the patients were children or adolescents. The most frequent site of injury was the face, with 40 cases, followed by the hand, with 16 cases. Of the 68 patients, 7 were treated with secondary intention healing. Sixty-one patients underwent delayed procedures, including delayed direct closure, skin graft, composite graft, and local flap.

Conclusions Based on overall findings from our review of the 68 cases of mammalian bites, we suggest practical guidelines for the management of mammalian bite injuries, which could be useful in the treatment of serious mammalian bite wounds.

Keywords

Bites and stings - Wounds and injuries - Antibiotic prophylaxis - Plastics


Publication History

Received: 21 May 2013

Accepted: 02 August 2013

Article published online:
01 May 2022

© 2013. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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