Bite wounds to the hand - a review

Bite wounds occur as a result of bite by an animal or a human. They are relatively frequent due to the growing number of pets living with people, as well as from inadequate human-animal interactions. The knowledge of most surgeons about the management of these injuries is relatively outdated, whereas the current literature points to important changes in this field. The article presents several aspects concerning epidemiology, classification, bacteriology, and characteristics of bite wounds to the hand. Based on the actual literature, detailed rules for the management of these injuries are described. This information may prove useful in the daily practice of surgeons and doctors at emergency departments who are frequently faced with bite wounds.

Scoping decades of dog evidence: a scoping review of dog bite-related sequelae

OBJECTIVES

There has been considerable literature published focusing on various sequelae to dog bites over the last three decades. Much of the literature has focused on rabies, particularly canine rabies variant, which accounts for the majority of rabies deaths worldwide. This paper describes the complications, the pathogens, and other sequelae resulting from dog bites documented in the literature.

METHODS

This paper used evidence found through a scoping review which charted the published peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed gray literature and online information relating to dog bite incidents. Each complication or sequela was additionally assessed from the viewpoint of Canadian Indigenous, rural, and geographically remote communities, which experience a high number of dog bite incidents annually.

SYNTHESIS

Peer-reviewed literature (N = 693; case report, original research, and review articles) provided detailed information on specific pathogens, infections, and diseases of interest, especially rabies. However, in addition to these, the sequelae from dog bites may include moderate to severe injuries that further result in anxiety around dogs or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CONCLUSIONS

While a lot of focus in the literature is on rabies as a sequela to dog bites, the impacts of anxiety and PTSD are not as well articulated. Treatment of dog bite injuries may be standardized; however, improved collaborations between diverse health professionals (physicians, veterinarians, counseling services, animal behaviourists, and others) could be of considerable benefit in decreasing the effects of dog bites.