DOG-BITE INJURIES OF THE FACE

Dog bite injuries occure statistically in urban areas every three days. Thirty such injuries to the face were treated at the Ear-Nose-Throat University Hospital, Erlan-gen-Nuremberg, between 1973 and 1990. The average age of the patients was 15 years. The dogs most frequently involved were the Alsatian wolfhound (43%) and the badger dog (21%). The majority of the victims were family members (59%) or at least known to the owner of the dog (28%). Only in 14% of the cases was no correlation found. Dog bite injuries most frequently happened during playing with the dog (53%) or when the victim bowed to the dog (33%). Dog bites without cause were uncommonly found (7%). Of all facial injuries the nose was most frequently involved (50%) and severely afflicted. In our experience, replantation of the avulsed part always resulted in necrosis. In contrast, the most favorable results were achieved when defects were reconstructed immediately.