Toxins (Jul 2022)

Medical Management after Lancehead Snakebite in North Amazon: A Case Report of Long-Term Disability

  • Isadora S. Oliveira,
  • Carla B. Ananias,
  • Jilvando M. Medeiros,
  • Michelle V. S. Franco,
  • Isabela G. Ferreira,
  • Felipe A. Cerni,
  • Eliseu A. Sandri,
  • Wuelton M. Monteiro,
  • Manuela B. Pucca

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14070494
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 7
p. 494

Abstract

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Snakebites are a major public health problem in indigenous communities in Brazil, leading to acute local and systemic damage with resulting deficiencies. Long-term musculoskeletal disabilities related to snakebites have been a neglected area of research. Bothrops (lancehead) snakes are responsible for most of the permanent sequelae related to snakebites in Latin America. Here, we present a case report of a 32-year-old male indigenous patient who was envenomed by a Bothrops species. The patient was clinically followed for a period of approximately 2 years and 6 months, during which time he experienced a loss of musculoskeletal tissue and required several medical procedures such as debridement, tissue reconstruction, and physical therapy, which resulted in a recovery of mobility, though with a permanent sequelae in gait. This case report shows how snakebites have a significant impact on health systems, as victims require physiotherapy, plastic surgery, and orthopedics services, as well as social support for reintegration into their local communities.

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