Case Report

A 19 year girl presented to the plastic surgery following an English terrier bite on the left leg. She had an open wound of about 4-5cms with loss of skin. This was managed with early debridement and secondary intention wound healing. At the time of presentation, x-ray revealed no bony injuries. The wounds healed well and the patient was followed up in the clinic. One year later, patient complaint of noticing a bone swelling at the site of now well healed wound. X-ray revealed a bony spicule( Fig 1).

Figure 1

Figure 1: Showing bone spicule

There was no recent history of injury to the area. It was thought that periosteal stripping followed by a phenomenon of exostosis might have lead to the formation of the bone spicule. A decision of removal of the bony spicule was made.

Discussion

Dog bites are known to cause complications. These complications include early and late complications. Most dreaded complication includes rabies. Early debridement and appropriate treatment is necessary. Bone complications in the form of osteomyleties are recorded. But periosteal stripping followed by calcification forming bony swelling is not recorded. The author tries to emphasis the even though at the time of presentation there was no clinical evidence of bone injury, periosteal reaction can lead to a similar phenomenon of exostosis in such injuries.

Correspondence to

Mr. Zakir Shariff, 23, Rosemary Way, Beverly. HU17 0SS. UK Phone: 07793538278 Email : zakirshariff@hotmail.com