A study of human bite injuries to the face.

OBJECTIVES To analyse human bites injuries of the face as seen in Benin City, Nigeria and to compare the results with similar studies. DESIGN Prospective cross sectional study. SETTING Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. SUBJECTS Twenty patients with human bites to the face. RESULTS The patients had a mean age of 36.0 years (range: 26 to 48 years), with a female to male ratio of 4:1. Matrimonial conflict related to polygamy was the commonest reason for assault, with females predominating as assailants. The lower lip was the commonest site of injury with 15 cases (75%). Eighteen patients (90.0%) presented at the clinic within 48 hours of injury with only 14 (70.0%) undergoing surgical repair within two to four days. Financial constraints accounted for the time lapse. None of the bite injuries became infected. This was attributed to early local wound care and systemic antibacterial therapy. None of the victims planned to seek legal redress for the bite injuries. CONCLUSION This study showed that assaults during matrimonial conflicts led to most human bites to the face. It also showed that the Nigerian female was most often the victim and the assailant in such cases. Financial constraints were identified as the major cause of delay in the treatment of these injuries. However, delay in repair did not adversely affect the outcome of these injuries.