Human Bite Injuries of the Orofacial Region: An Analysis of 26 Cases in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Study Design: A retrospective study of 26 cases of human bite injuries at the Government Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital (now Maxillofacial unit, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital), Port Harcourt, within September 2011 and August 2016. Objective: To analyze the pattern, presentation, management, and complications of human bite injuries in the orofacial region. Methods: Information was extracted from hospital records of all victims of human bites to the face between the study period. Facial bites resulting from animals were excluded. Data such as age, gender, time lag between the injury and time of presentation in the hospital, nature and the circumstances of the injuries, site of injuries, and treatment outcomes and complications were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 26 patients within the ages of 18 and 60 years were seen during the period of study. They were all related to fights, which were all resolved out of court. There was a preponderance of females, and the lower lip was the most affected site ( p < .05). In all, 14 patients presented within 24 hours of injury and all but 2 (7.6%) patients presented within 7 days of injury. No wound was overtly infected. Treatments of injuries were varied from simple wedge excision and primary closure to complex multistaged procedures and were uneventful with acceptable surgical outcomes. Conclusion: Human bite wounds reported in this study were all due to social conflicts without legal redress. Although human bite wounds are considered to be dirty or contaminated but with proper wound debridement, antimicrobial cover and primary or immediate surgical closure results in very favorable aesthetic outcomes in all cases.