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. 2023 Aug:252:164-169.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2023.03.035. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Incidence and Characteristics of Facial and Ophthalmic Injuries From Domestic Mammal Bites: Parts of the data in the manuscript were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, 2022

Clara M Castillejo Becerra  1 , David O Hodge  2 , Elizabeth A Bradley  3
Affiliations

Incidence and Characteristics of Facial and Ophthalmic Injuries From Domestic Mammal Bites: Parts of the data in the manuscript were presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, 2022

Clara M Castillejo Becerra et al. Am J Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine population-based incidence and characteristics of facial and ophthalmic injuries from domestic mammal bites in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Design: Retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Methods: The Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) was used to identify all potential cases of facial injuries from domestic mammal bites in Olmsted County, Minnesota from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2015. Subjects were categorized into 2 cohorts: the ophthalmic cohort, which included persons with ocular and periocular injuries with or without facial injuries, and the non-ophthalmic cohort, which included persons with facial injuries only. The incidence and characteristics of facial and ophthalmic injuries from domestic mammal bites were assessed.

Results: There were 245 patients with facial injuries, 47 ophthalmic and 198 non-ophthalmic. The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence of facial injuries was 9.0 (CI = 7.9-10.1) per 100,000 persons per year, 1.7 (CI = 1.2-2.2) ophthalmic and 7.3 (CI = 6.3-8.3) non-ophthalmic. Rates of facial injuries were highest in patients younger than 5 years and lowest in patients 50 years or older, 49.1 (CI = 41.3-61.6) and 1.3 (CI = 0.7-2.5), respectively (P < .001). All facial injuries were caused by either dog (92%) or cat (8%) bites. Patients with ophthalmic injuries received more intravenous prophylactic antibiotics (18% vs 1%, P < .001), wound closure (83% vs 58%, P < .001), and hospital admission (6% vs 0%, P = .007) than patients with non-ophthalmic injuries. Facial injury complications were infrequent (14, 6%) and included soft tissue infection and prominent scar.

Conclusions: Although domestic mammal bites to the face are quite common, ocular injury occurs in a minority of cases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No conflicting relationship exists for any author.

Figures

Figure:
Figure:
Incidence of facial injuries from domestic mammal bites in Olmsted County, Minnesota, by age group
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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