Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report

Dog attacks are extremely frequent and are thought to be responsible for an average of 250,000 minor injuries and emergency unit attendances each year. Children in particular are more likely to experience dog-bite injuries with 5–9-year olds most susceptible. The majority of injuries are to the head...

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Main Authors: Hannah Cottom, Dery Tuopar, Phillip Ameerally
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Dentistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/659756
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author Hannah Cottom
Dery Tuopar
Phillip Ameerally
author_facet Hannah Cottom
Dery Tuopar
Phillip Ameerally
author_sort Hannah Cottom
collection DOAJ
description Dog attacks are extremely frequent and are thought to be responsible for an average of 250,000 minor injuries and emergency unit attendances each year. Children in particular are more likely to experience dog-bite injuries with 5–9-year olds most susceptible. The majority of injuries are to the head region, with the lips, cheeks, and nose often affected. Most injuries experienced are confined to the soft tissues; nevertheless, maxillofacial fracture is a potential albeit rare complication. The incidence of facial fractures in relation to dog bites is unknown; however, some have estimated that facial fractures could occur in 5% of dog attacks. However mandibular fracture following a dog bite is extremely rare, with review of the literature only identifying three cases. We present a further case in which a five-year-old sustained numerous soft-tissue lacerations to the face and hand, together with fracture of the mandibular symphysis following a dog attack. The fracture was successfully repaired using open reduction and internal fixation with titanium plates and screws. The case emphasises that although maxillofacial fracture is rare, it may occur following a dog bite and that thorough and systematic examination of the facial skeleton is crucial to exclude the presence of such injuries.
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spelling doaj-art-857835a8a2da46a780f3d116d625e32f2025-08-20T02:08:55ZengWileyCase Reports in Dentistry2090-64472090-64552011-01-01201110.1155/2011/659756659756Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case ReportHannah Cottom0Dery Tuopar1Phillip Ameerally2Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton NN1 5BD, UKDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton NN1 5BD, UKDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton NN1 5BD, UKDog attacks are extremely frequent and are thought to be responsible for an average of 250,000 minor injuries and emergency unit attendances each year. Children in particular are more likely to experience dog-bite injuries with 5–9-year olds most susceptible. The majority of injuries are to the head region, with the lips, cheeks, and nose often affected. Most injuries experienced are confined to the soft tissues; nevertheless, maxillofacial fracture is a potential albeit rare complication. The incidence of facial fractures in relation to dog bites is unknown; however, some have estimated that facial fractures could occur in 5% of dog attacks. However mandibular fracture following a dog bite is extremely rare, with review of the literature only identifying three cases. We present a further case in which a five-year-old sustained numerous soft-tissue lacerations to the face and hand, together with fracture of the mandibular symphysis following a dog attack. The fracture was successfully repaired using open reduction and internal fixation with titanium plates and screws. The case emphasises that although maxillofacial fracture is rare, it may occur following a dog bite and that thorough and systematic examination of the facial skeleton is crucial to exclude the presence of such injuries.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/659756
spellingShingle Hannah Cottom
Dery Tuopar
Phillip Ameerally
Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report
Case Reports in Dentistry
title Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report
title_full Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report
title_fullStr Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report
title_short Mandibular Fracture in a Child Resulting from a Dog Attack: A Case Report
title_sort mandibular fracture in a child resulting from a dog attack a case report
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/659756
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