Dog bite injuries of the eye and ocular adnexa

Abstract

Dog bites result in a diverse range of injuries and complications in the periocular region, particularly in school aged children. It is therefore incumbent on the oculoplastic surgeon to be well versed in both acute and long-term management. The intent of this review is to provide a systematic evaluation of the epidemiology, principles of dog bite wound care, and specific considerations related to common patterns of ophthalmic injury. Review of clinical literature from 1976 to 2014. The majority of periocular injuries result from seemingly benign interactions between young children and familiar dogs. Aggressive saline lavage combined with selective debridement of devitalized tissue is essential. High-risk wounds and vulnerable patient groups may benefit from preventive antibiotic coverage as well as appropriate rabies and tetanus prophylaxis. While the nuances of surgical repair are variable given the heterogeneity of presentation, systematic examination and an algorithm-driven approach underlie the optimal management of these complex injuries.

Microbiological Characteristics and Surgical Management of Animal-Bite-Related Oral & Maxillofacial Injuries: A Single Center’s Experience

“…Preventive antibiotic therapy should also be considered for certain risk factors. For example, an antibiotic seems to make sense in the case of an accident event more than 9 h ago, in the case of pronounced wounds, heavy contamination or in immunosuppressed patients [ 30 ]. In the case of a pronounced bite injury, antibiotic therapy according to smear test and microbiological co-assessment should be established because it is superior to conservative therapy [ 22 ].…”

Animal induced ocular injuries: A brief review

“…In the United States, nearly 50 % of the household contains at least one dog. 10 There is a risk of polymicrobial infection and transmission of rabies due to dog inflicted injuries. Dog bites causes an approximately 4.5 million human injuries in the United States yearly.…”

“…At the same time, adults and teenagers are more likely to be attacked in the outer environment by an unfamiliar dog without voluntary interaction. 10,18 The most common dog breed responsible for fatal bite and ocular injuries 17 is Pitbull's, as they are among one of the highly aggressive dog breeds. 19,20 Other aggressive dog breeds causing injuries are German shepherds, Doberman pinchverus, Bulldogs, Huskies and Akitas etc.…”

Ophthalmic Trauma

“…Most ocular trauma in younger children occurs during casual play, while older children usually sustain their injuries while participating in sports. Dog bites result in a diverse range of injuries and complications in the periorbital region in young children (Erickson et al 2019;Bratton et al 2018).…”