Citation

Eardley WGP, Harrison MH, Coady MSE. Inj. Extra 2007; 38(1): 11-11.

Affiliation

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, UK

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2006.06.050

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ninety-two retrospective cases of human bite injury referred to a Plastic Surgery Department are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship of alcohol intake to these injuries, their distribution and subsequent management. A review of the literature is conducted and trends in alcohol intake and its impact on this violent injury are discussed.

The human bite is a leisure time injury of the young single male in the North East. It has been shown that there is a clear link to alcohol and in particular, weekend drinking. Prompt operative intervention and wounds located at the head and neck have been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of subsequent infection, which reflects findings in the earlier literature.
Fifteen cases were infected. One was the result of a postoperative complication, the remainder being infected on admission. The majority of infected cases were upper limb bites and were associated with a delayed presentation.

This study provides an insight into the presentation and associations of the human bite injury.