Two cases of extensive maxillofacial injury following mauling by bears: Sri Lankan experience

Abstract

Domestic animal bites are commonly encountered in Oral and Maxillofacial (OMF) practice, whereas bear attacks are a rare trauma situation that OMF surgeons deal with in their practice. Two case reports presented here are infrequent extensive injuries that required significant surgical undertaking. Two male victims who were mauled by bears, demonstrated injuries around the middle one third, periorbital and central face. Salient features of the injuries on these occasions were almost all degloved tissues, can be put together as a complex jigsaw. The approach taken was to clean, debride and build from deep to superficial with maximum preservation of tissues.