Emergency rooms often handle injuries from dog bites. Since each bite wound is different, a personalized treatment strategy is needed. Here, we describe the instance of a 27-year-old lady who had a face dog bite injury and was sent to Vienna’s major hospital.
Primary closure of the wound was possible. Due to her unclear vaccination status, the patient was immunized against tetanus, polio, pertussis, and diphtheria and administered amoxicillin-clavulanate as antimicrobial treatment. The nasal ventilation and cosmetic result were good 183 days after the incident. More serious injuries may need skin or composite grafts, distant or local flaps, and microsurgical techniques, depending on the reconstructive ladder for wound closure.
Another essential component of treating dog bite injuries is anti-infective therapy, which fights against bacteria such as rabies and tetanus. This case study advances our understanding of dog bite injuries and the need for individualized, interdisciplinary care.