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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

08:18
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Orbital Fractures
Published on: May 16, 2025
Upper face and orbit "degloving" dog bite injury
Joseph Bergmann1, Ken Lee, Richard Klein
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33613, USA.
Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|March 11, 2009
Summary
Severe facial trauma from dog bites is rare. This case details extensive orbital injuries, including eyelid and orbital tissue loss, requiring complex surgical reconstruction in a suicide attempt survivor.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Plastic Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Dog bites can cause significant facial injuries, but extensive orbital trauma is uncommon.
- This case involves a 70-year-old woman with severe self-inflicted facial injuries due to pet dachshunds.
Observation:
- The patient sustained bilateral periorbital injuries, including loss of all four eyelids, lacrimal glands, conjunctiva, left extraocular muscles, and orbital fat.
- The injuries occurred after an attempted suicide, with the patient unconscious for an undetermined period.
Findings:
- Surgical intervention included subtotal exenteration of the left orbit.
- Reconstruction of the right orbit utilized a temporoparietal fasciocutaneous flap and buccal mucosa for conjunctival replacement.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for severe orbital damage from animal attacks, even in domestic settings.
- The surgical techniques employed offer a potential solution for extensive orbital reconstruction following severe trauma.
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