Infected Wound Secondary to a Hyena Bite in a Patient From Rural South Sudan: A Case Report

Animal bites, especially hyena bites, can lead to severe injuries and cause significant morbidity and disabilities to a patient, most commonly in low- and middle-income countries. In South Sudan, the most common type of hyena is the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta). The management of severe injuries due to a hyena bite is multi-disciplinary and challenging in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Acute emergency conditions like active bleeding and sepsis should be treated, the wound should be cleaned, debrided from devitalized tissue, and reconstructive procedures should be done when the wound is clean. Hyena bite injuries can range from mild to severe injuries. We present a case of an 11-year-old female patient who presented to our emergency room with a wound on the left hand and right buttock after she was attacked by a hyena three days prior and was referred from Tonj Hospital, Warrap State. The patient underwent debridement as well as second-look debridement and is awaiting reconstructive surgery. This case report highlighted the emergency management of complex hyena injuries and the importance of prompt intervention in the overall outcomes.