Human bite injury in North East England--the impact of alcohol intake on a mode of violent assault.
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. 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 were infected on admission. The majority of infected cases were upper limb bites and were associated with a delayed presentation.
Eardley
W G P
WG
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, James Colok University Hospital, Middlesbrough. willeardley@doctors.org.uk
Harrison
M H
MH
Coady
M S E
MS
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003646:Debridement; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents