Attempted Nose and Lip Replantation after Partial Animal Digestion

Abstract

We report a case of a 71-year-old female patient who sustained a severe midface soft tissue avulsion injury from a family canine. The removed tissue was recovered from the canine's digestive tract and transferred to the hospital where emergent microvascular replantation was performed. The tissue survived for 72 hours, but then developed vascular compromise. Despite aggressive revision of multiple anastomoses with extensive use of vein grafting, the replanted segment was lost. Reconstruction then proceeded along traditional lines with an acceptable cosmetic outcome and good functional outcomes.

Keywords

• replantation
• dog bite
• facial reconstruction