Facial human bites. Vision on STMMs in Africa

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Human bites of the face are a common and severe health concern.
• These injuries can lead to significant functional and aesthetic impairments.
• Complications and disease transmission are major risks associated with facial human bites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review facial human bite cases managed by the team during 112 short-term medical missions (STMMs) in Sub-Saharan Africa over 20 years.
• To analyze the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of these injuries.
• To discuss common complications and surgical management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical documentation for patients with facial human bites.
• Data collected from 112 STMMs conducted between 2000 and 2019 in various Sub-Saharan African countries.
• Analysis of patient demographics, affected facial areas, surgical procedures, and complications.

Main Results:

• 51 patients with facial human bites were identified from approximately 5500 medical charts.
• The patient age ranged from 15 to 65 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.55:1.
• Lips, ear, and nose were the most frequently affected areas; infection and graft necrosis were the most common complications (9.3%).

Conclusions:

• Facial human bites represent a serious public health issue in certain African populations due to their frequency and severity.
• Treatment is challenging, involving risks of local infections, systemic disease transmission, and complex surgical interventions.
• Effective management requires specialized surgical expertise and consideration of infectious disease risks.