Human bites of the face. Early surgical management

A prospective study was done on 72 cases of human bites of the face. Forty-four patients were found suitable for early surgery, which was performed under antibiotic cover within 5 days after injury. In 35 of the 44 cases antibiotics were started within the first 24 hours (group I) and the results are compared with similar studies. Further comparison is made with 9 patients (20%) (groups II and III) who arrived at hospital late and so did not receive antibiotics until over 24 hours after the bite, although surgery was still performed within the first 5 days. Infection rates were low in all three groups. Wounds were closed directly or definitive surgery done with the use of local flaps or skin grafts. No problems were experienced with these procedures.