Search
Fight Bites
- Any abrasion or laceration over the knuckles should be presumed to be a fight bite. Patients will often lie about the circumstances of the laceration.
- Radiographs should be obtained on all of these patients to exclude
- Retained foreign bodies (e.g., tooth fragments)
- Fracture of the metacarpal head
- Place patient on amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or clindamycin to cover mouth flora
- Irrigate wound well, and explore through the fingers full range of motion to exclude joint or tendon injury.
- Refrain from suturing the wound, as this will increase the risk of infection.
- Splint in position of function and have them follow up in 2 days.