DOG BITES

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After

Dog bites account for 800,000 emergency room visits per year. Dog bites are different from other lacerations in that the incidence of infection is 15 times greater than that of routine lacerations because the organisms are more virulent and contain a mixed comtamination of bacteria. Penetrating injuries by the dog's teeth can inject the deeper tissue and lead to late infection, presenting as redness, fever, and swelling.

Anyone with a dog bite more than a scratch should seek medical treatment immediately, especially if the health status of the dog is unknown. Initial treatment should include thorough cleansing, antibiotics, tetanus prophylaxis, and reporting the dog bite to the Health Department to ascertain whether the dog is up to date on rabies and other vaccinations. Deep penetrating injuries and tearing lacerations of the face, lips of ears should be treated by a plastic surgeon. Repair of the dog bite requires surgically cutting away the contaminated tissue and thorough irrigation with saline or antibiotic solution. The freshened skin edges are meticulously closed under magnification. Forty percent of all dog bites include tearing away of flesh, which, for the plastic surgeon, entails, not only making the scar less conspicuous, but also replacing lost tissue.

Secondary restorative surgery is initiated several weeks to months after injury. Facial distortions are evaluated by video computer imaging at the initial consultation, and a surgical protocol is outlined to restore delicate facial balance and symmetry. Sophisticated techniques of meticulous tissue re-arrangement and skin grafting are utilized to restore facial features to a more anatomical appearance. While persistent scars cannot be avoided, sophisticated laser technology can flatten and camouflage their unsightly appearance. In extreme cases, where the dog bites have penetrated the facial muscles or severed the facial nerve, microsurgical techniques of nerve or muscle grafting can lead to restored facial expression.

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After

 

For more detailed information regarding procedures / recovery / expectations / limitations / risks / potential complications, write or e-mail Dr. Rose.

PRE AND POSTOPERATIVE PHOTOS SELECTED FROM PATIENTS WHO HAVE GIVEN US PERMISSION FOR USAGE OR WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNIDENTIFIABLE. These photos do not warranty surgical outcome or results. A more complete photo gallery is available at consultation with Dr. Rose.