Approach and treatment algorithm to animal bites the role of plastic surgery in animal bites: injury profiles and treatment approaches.

INTRODUCTION

Injuries sustained by animals are now common. A review of cases shows that injuries usually manifest as penetrating injuries, lacerations, crushing and tissue rupture. These can lead to severe complications, including infection, deformity, zoonotic diseases and, in extreme cases, death.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2020 to February 2025, 981 patients were admitted to Balıkesir University Health Practice and Research Hospital due to animal-related injuries. A detailed investigation was performed. The investigation analysed demographic data, animal-related injury mechanisms, trauma sites, plastic surgery interventions, patient outcomes and complications. A decision tree model was constructed to identify predictors of complication risk among patients who underwent surgery following an animal bite.

RESULTS

The patient sample's demographics: 54.2% female, 45.8% male. The most common reasons for admission: dog (83.9%), cat (9.0%), rodent (5.4%). The most prevalent intervention is primary suturing, accounting for 55.05% of cases. Patients who were referred to the Plastic Surgery Department constituted 14.07% of the total. 62.1% of these patients were discharged, while 24.8% were admitted to hospital. The mean duration of hospitalisation for dog, cat, rodent and equine bite patients is 4, 2, 6 and 7 days respectively. Patients were observed at the outpatient clinic two, four, four and six times on average.

CONCLUSION

The risk predictive model shows that antibiotic therapy, animal type and injury location can predict complications. Older age and lack of vaccination were also identified as risk factors. This helps clinicians to make more informed decisions.