Menace of human lip bite in South-South Nigeria

Background: In general, human bite injuries in the maxillofacial region can be self-inflicted or originating from another personu0027s teeth. Lip injuries have the potential for infection and gross disfigurement. Bites on the face also present as a surgical challenge, especially if there is partial or total loss of important structure(s) of the face like the ears, the eyelids, the nose, the lips. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of patients with human bites to the lip. One hundred and two patients with human bites on the lip who presented at the Maxillofacial Unit of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital were involved in the study. Information obtained on the patients includes age, gender, time of presentation after the injuries, nature and circumstances of injuries and treatment offered to the patients were noted. Results: A total of 102 patients were seen in the study. The victims and offenders were mainly males, while male to female ratio among the offenders was 1:2. Upper lip was more affected than lower lip, while more patients lost one-third of the lip. The majority of the patients (46%) presented within 24 h of attack. The majority of them were treated with prophylactic antibiotic and primary repair. Conclusion: Human bites of the face are still common in our society. According to Lackmansu0027 classification, the majority of injuries were Class 111. The injury cuts across all age groups, more in lower lip. Minimal debridement and primary closure are effective when patients present early.