APPLICATION OF DOUBLE PEDICLED FLAP AND TECHNIQUE OF GEOMETRIC BROKEN LINE FOR PRIMARY REPAIR OF SERIOUS DOG BITE WOUNDS

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of double pedicled flap and technique of geometric broken line (GBL) for primary repair of serious dog bite wound. Between October 2006 and December 2014, 9 patients with serious dog bite wound were treated. There were 3 males and 6 females with an average age of 34.5 years (range, 8-68 years), and with a mean disease duration of 4 hours (range, 30 minutes to 24 hours). The defect ranged from 1.7 cm×0.5 cm to 15.0 cm×8.0 cm, with the mean depth of 0.5 cm (range, 0.3-0.8 cm). Deep tissue exposure was observed. After routine debridement, a vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) was equipped to suck and irrigate for 1 day, then wound was repaired. The superomedial edge of defect was trimmed, then a GBL shape mainly with square and rectangular was designed. According to defect size, a double pedicled flap was designed at the lateroinferior edge of defect, which size ranged from 1.7 cm×1.5 cm to 18.0 cm×15.0 cm. The donor site was sutured directly. VSD was used for 3 days after operation. All flaps survived and wound healed, and donor site incision healed well, with invisible scar. All patients were followed up 6 months to 8 years (mean, 4 years). The wounds were repaired well, and the patients had good facial appearance. No rabies attack was observed during follow-up. It is an ideal repair method to chose double pedicled flap and technique of GBL for primary repair of dog bite wounds. Satisfactory cosmetic appearance can be obtained.