A Case of Severe Facial Injury Caused by a Bear Attack Restored through Prosthetic Treatment after Reconstructive Surgery

Abstract

Bears, which are large wild animals, usually attack the maxillofacial area using the fore-foot and teeth. The resulting severe facial injury needs cosmetic reconstruction and oral rehabilitation. The following report describes a case of severe facial injury which was treated by lower lip reconstruction and prosthetic rehabilitation.
The patient was an 82-year-old man. He was attacked by a wild bear in the mountains. Lower lip reconstruction with a free forearm flap was performed 10 months after emergency surgery. He was satisfied with the cosmetic reconstruction, but the oral functions such as occlusion and speech were not fully recovered.
Treatment with dental implants was impossible because a scar on the lower lip and oral mucosa prevented mouth-opening. A dental prosthesis was prepared and subsequent oral functional examinations revealed that his oral function had sufficiently improved.
In the treatment of facial injuries, it is essential to restore not only aesthetic features, but also good oral function.