SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF DENTAL TRAUMA AND INCISOR TEETH AVULSION DUE TO DOG BITE IN A GREY LANGUR (SEMNOPITHECUS ENTELLUS)

Abstract

Traumatic injuries are common in grey langur (Semnopithecus entellus) and are mostly associated with a fight among themselves. Tooth avulsion and luxation are some of the commonly reported dental emergencies. A 2-year-old male grey langur was presented with a history of dog bite injury on the oral cavity. On general clinical examination, the langur was dull and depressed, with physiological parameters within the normal range. A detailed examination of the oral cavity revealed a lacerated wound on the gum with avulsion of the left central and lateral maxillary incisors. The lateral skull radiograph confirmed teeth avulsion and ruled out the involvement of jaws. The langur was stabilized with fluids (normal saline and DNS @ 5 ml/kg), cefotaxime @ 20 mg/kg, and meloxicam @ 0.2 mg/kg. General anesthesia was induced with ketamine hydrochloride @ 15 mg/kg intramuscular along with lignocaine infiltration. The oral cavity was cleaned using chlorhexidine gluconate rinse (0.12%). The injured left lower central and lateral incisor teeth were removed. Excess bleeding in the gum was controlled by applying direct pressure using adrenaline-soaked gauze. The torn gum tissue was sutured using polyglactin 910 (3-0) in a simple interrupted pattern to re-approximate the wound edges. Post-bite anti-rabies vaccine and tetanus toxoid were administered subsequently. The animal recovered uneventfully.

Keywords

• langur
• dental trauma
• teeth avulsion
• dog bite
• surgical management