Background: As a plastic surgeons one of the most common
problems we manage in the emergency department are
facial soft tissue injuries due to dog bites. Infection represents
one of the main complications of such type of trauma. The
aim of our study was to establish recommendations for early
treatment of such injuries based on analysis of our own cases
with stressing on the importance of early management within
the first 24 hours.
Patients and Methods: 49 cases of facial soft tissue injuries
due to dog bites were managed within the first 24 hours
through proper surgical debridement, immediate primary
closure with administration of the proper vaccines and proper
antibiotic coverage.
Results: Early management of facial soft tissue injuries
due to dog bites markedly improved the rate of wound healingwithout
increasing the risk of wound infection. Also operating
fresh tissues before tissue inflammation or retraction allowed
easier reconstruction and so better cosmetic results.
Conclusion: Early proper wound cleaning, surgical debridement,
immediate primary closure and the 3 A (Antirabies
vaccine, Antitetanus vaccine, antibiotics) ensure satisfactory
results in management of facial soft tissue injuries due to dog
bites