Evaluating Dog Bite-Induced Facial Trauma: A Study From a Single Tertiary Care Center.

OBJECTIVE

Analyze demographic and clinical factors for patients presenting with dog bites to the face, head, or neck.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Single tertiary care, level 1 trauma center.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review identified patients presenting for facial dog bite injuries from 2012 to 2023.

RESULTS

There were 906 patients with facial dog bites and 2061 injuries. Patients ranged from 0 to 91 years old with a median of 7 years, and 50.6% were female. The 2 most common causes for injury were playing with the dog (32.0%) or an unprovoked attack (17.3%). Family dogs were responsible for 61.3% of injuries. Pitbulls (22.4%), Labradors (10.5%), and German Shepherds (7.0%) were the most identified breeds. The cheeks (25.9%), lips (20.8%), and nose (9.0%) were most injured. Hospital admission was required in 17.0% of patients. Regarding management, 16.9% required operative repair, 65.9% were repaired at bedside, and 17.9% were managed conservatively. There were 878 patients prescribed intravenous or oral antibiotics (96.9%) with amoxicillin-clavulanate most frequently prescribed (62.7%). Of the 138 patients bit by dogs with outdated or unknown rabies vaccination status, 35.5% (n = 49) received a rabies vaccination, and 34.8% (n = 48) received rabies immunoglobulins. Of the 254 patients not current on tetanus vaccination, 78.7% (n = 200) received a booster.

CONCLUSION

Dog bites to the head and neck are common injuries, with many patients requiring hospital admission and/or repair. Understanding the demographics of these injuries is important to identify physical and socioeconomic burdens of disease, gaps in adherence to protocols/guidelines, and areas of targeted education/preventative interventions.