Boy bitten by German Shepherd, hospital mobilized 3 specialties for emergency surgery

Children's Hospital 1 (Ho Chi Minh City) said the hospital had just received and treated a 5-year-old boy who was attacked by a neighbor's German Shepherd, with lacerations to his forehead, eyebrows, and upper eyelids.

Child patient LHH (5 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City) was brought in with a lot of bleeding, a complex “star” shaped wound from the forehead through the eyebrow to the upper eyelid. According to the family, while the child was playing in front of the house, the neighbor’s dog rushed up and bit him directly on the face.

The dog rushed forward and bit baby H.'s face directly, creating a "star" shaped injury extending from the forehead through the eyebrow to the upper eyelid, bleeding profusely. Photo: Hospital

Right at the Emergency Department, doctors controlled the airway, reduced pain, cleaned the wound and provided tetanus and rabies prophylaxis according to the protocol. Dr. Ho Van Phung, acting Head of the Department of Dentistry, Children's Hospital 1, urgently activated the "ELIP 3" coordination model (Emergency - Interdisciplinary - Intensive - Prompt), simultaneously mobilizing 3 specialties: Ophthalmology, Dentistry and Otorhinolaryngology. The team comprehensively analyzed the injury, prevented complications of the eye socket and arranged the order of intervention to both preserve living tissue and limit bad scars later.

After more than two hours of surgery, the patient had multiple layers of facial tissue regenerated, the eyelid margins and eyelid margins restored to correct anatomy, ensuring eye opening and closing function and protecting the lacrimal system. The techniques of hidden sutures along the skin fold and re-establishing the eyebrow axis contributed to a significant improvement in aesthetics.

According to Dr. Ho Van Phung, facial and eyelid injuries in children caused by dog ​​bites are often complicated because the child's height is equal to the dog's head, which can easily cause multiple layers of tissue to tear, affecting vision and leaving severe scars. Therefore, after surgery, the child will continue to receive care to control infection and monitor vision. The child will continue to have his or her vision monitored and scar treatment to achieve optimal aesthetic results when he or she grows up.

Children's Hospital 1 recommends that people need to manage pets safely, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies, dewormed regularly, muzzled and on a leash, absolutely do not let children play alone with dogs, even familiar dogs. When bitten by a dog, wash the wound for at least 15 minutes with soap and clean water, cover with sterile gauze and go to a medical facility immediately; absolutely do not sew yourself or apply tobacco or dye.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-de-quan-tam/be-trai-bi-cho-becgie-can-rach-mat-benh-vien-huy-dong-3-chuyen-khoa-phau-thuat-khan-cap-20250930152747971.htm