Challenges and Outcomes in the Treatment of Severe Craniofacial Injuries From Dog Bite

Dog bites remain a significant public health concern, with potential functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial sequelae. This study reports a complex case of facial dog bite injury, highlighting treatment, challenges, and outcomes. A 59-year-old female presented with an extensive injury to the face and scalp, including bone exposure, loss of the right eyebrow, and multiple lacerations of the scalp, as well as the parotid, masseteric, lower lip, and nose regions. Wound closure was performed with irrigation, surgical debridement, and scalp repair. A Portovac drain was placed. A local rotational flap reconstructed the right eyebrow, achieving closure without eyelid tension. The patient received antibiotics, analgesics, tetanus, and rabies prophylaxis. At 3 months, facial nerve function, eyelid mobility, orbicularis oris activity, and salivary gland function were preserved. This case demonstrated that early intervention with appropriate flap techniques allows functional and aesthetic preservation, even in challenging conditions involving critical facial structures.