Tragic case of a dog bite in a young child: the dog stands trial.
The authors present the tragic case of an 18-month-old child who was bitten by a dog, causing amputation of the forearm and substantial damage to the cutaneous muscle on his back, shoulder, thorax, and neck. A free latissimus dorsi flap was performed to preserve the humerus from which the periosteum had been torn away. A series of cutaneous expansions were then undertaken to graft skin back onto the back, the armpit, and the shoulder stump, to allow for a mechanical prosthesis. A study of the literature on this subject proves that dog bites are more frequent and serious (sometimes even fatal) in young children than in adults. In view of the current legislation, it would seem that the public health authorities are doing little to resolve this distressing problem.
Duteille
Franck
F
Unité de Chirurgie Plastique et Reconstructrice, SOS Mains Enfants, Hôpital Brabois, Nancy, France.
Hadjukowicz
Joel
J
Pasquier
Philippe
P
Dautel
Gilles
G
D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices