Treatment of oral and maxillofacial dog bites in children

To summarize experience treating dog bites in the oral and maxillofacial regions of children and provide a reference for clinical practice.

Nineteen children with dog bite wounds in the maxillofacial region were treated from July 2011 to June 2018 with primary debridement and suturing. A rabies vaccine, tetanus vaccine and human immunoglobulin as a passive immune agent were given via intramuscular injection. Anti-inflammatory therapy with amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium or other antibiotics. Follow-up observation and a retrospective analysis of the treatment effect were carried out.

After treatment, among the 19 pediatric patients, 18 cases showed primary healing and 1 case showed secondary healing. The follow-up period ranged from six months to seven and a half years. No cases of rabies occurred.

For the treatment of patients with maxillofacial dog bite wounds, the first stage debridement and suture can reduce the scar after operation and is beneficial to the recovery of face.