BITE INJURIES IN THE HEAD AND NECK REGION

In Germany about 8500 dog-bite injuries in the face occur every year; more than 50% of the victims are infants and schoolchildren. Besides d ogs, other animals such as cars or houses may be responsible for these accidents. Even human bites are reported. The predominant areas are t he nose and the auricles, The tissue defects may be superficial, but t hey can even cause amputations, including severe vascular and nerve or bony destruction. Systemic antibiotic therapy is needed when the woun d is infected. The surgical approach to bite injuries includes local w ound cleansing, careful excision of necrotic tissue and primary closur e of the wound whenever possible. Regarding the importance of surgery in the head and neck area plastic-reconstructive techniques including autologous transplantations and various local or regional flaps should he used at the time the wound is first repaired.