Abstract:
Background: Human bites in the maxillofacial region compromise function and aesthetics,
resulting in social and psychological effects. There is paucity of information regarding human bite
injuries in Tanzania. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence, treatment modalities and
prognosis of human bite injuries in the oro-facial region at the Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania.
Methods: In a prospective study the details of patients with human bite injuries in the oro-facial
region who attended at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Muhimbili National
Hospital between January 2001 and December 2005 were recorded. Data included information on
age, sex, site, duration of the injury at the time of reporting to hospital, reasons, details of
treatment offered and outcome after treatment.
Results: A total of 33 patients, 13 males and 20 females aged between 12 and 49 years with human
bite injuries in the oro-facial region were treated. Thirty patients presented with clean uninfected
wounds while 3 had infected wounds. The most (45.5%) frequently affected site was the lower lip.
Treatment offered included thorough surgical cleansing with adequate surgical debridement and
primary suturing. Tetanus prophylaxis and a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics were given to all
the patients. In 90% of the 30 patients who were treated by suturing, the healing was uneventful
with only 10% experiencing wound infection or necrosis. Three patients who presented with
wounds that had signs of infection were treated by surgical cleansing with debridement, antibiotics
and daily dressing followed by delayed primary suturing.
Conclusion: Most of the human bite injuries in the oro-facial region were due to social conflicts.
Although generally considered to be dirty or contaminated they could be successfully treated by
surgical cleansing and primary suture with a favourable outcome. Management of such injuries often
need multidisciplinary approach.
