Abstract
Purpose:
Studies have shown that eyelid lacerations due to dog bites are often associated with trauma to the lacrimal apparatus. This is the largest retrospective review of eyelid lacerations from dog bites in children.
Methods:
This is a retrospective chart review from 1992 until 2012 of patients treated at our institution for eyelid lacerations secondary to dog bites. 73 patients that had sustained eyelid lacerations due to dog bites were identified. As a control group we randomly selected 365 patients that had sustained eyelid lacerations from other causes during the same period.
Results:
28 of the 73 (39%) patients that had sustained an eyelid laceration due to a dog bite also had damage to the lacrimal apparatus. Statistically this was significantly higher than patients who sustained an eyelid laceration due to other causes. Of the 28 patients with lacrimal apparatus trauma due to a dog bite 21 had involvement of the lower canaliculus, 5 of the upper canaliculus, 1 of both the upper and the lower canaliculi, and 1 had only trauma to the nasolacrimal sac.
Conclusions:
Eyelid lacerations secondary to dog bites in children are associated with damage to the lacrimal apparatus, with the lower canaliculus more often involved than the upper. This is thought to be from canine teeth tearing and avulsing the canaliculus as the eyelid is stretched. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for canalicular involvement in eyelid lacerations due to dog bites.
Keywords: 742 trauma •
526 eyelid