Facial fractures as a result of dog bite: A case report

Background and Objectives. Dog bites in the face are common injuries in children; usually, they result only in soft tissue injury. Occasionally, injuries to the facial skeleton that result in fractures have been reported. The authors report a case - which they believe is unique, with soft tissue injuries and fractures of the facial skeleton at two sites - and discuss the management of this and related cases. Methods and Materials. The injuries involved deep lacerations of soft tissue, the facial skeleton, and destruction of the inferior canaliculus of the nasolacrimal duct. Intraoperative radiographs and computerized tomography (CT) scans disclosed fractures in the right infraorbital region. The facial wounds were debrided and sutured, and antibiotics and blood transfusion were administered. Open reduction and fixation with resorbable miniplates and screws were performed 5 days subsequently. Medial canthopexy was used. The malar fracture was treated conservatively; the nasolacrimal duct was beyond reconstruction. Results and/or Conclusions. Nine months postoperatively, there were no complications. The scars were settling, and the patient was maintained under a long-term review.