Abstract
Wild animal attacks, specifically bear attacks, commonly involve maxillofacial injuries caused by the animal’s forepaws and teeth. The resulting severe facial injuries require cosmetic reconstruction and oral function rehabilitation. We report a case of severe facial injury that necessitated bone graft and dental implantation.
A 70-year-old man was attacked by a wild bear on a mountain in 2017. The patient was referred to our hospital and underwent hemostatic treatment and wound closure with sutures. He received antibiotics for a week, and we performed debridement and zygomatic fixation with a titanium plate. His oral function, including occlusion and speech, did not fully recover despite postoperative denture placement. Bone grafting was performed 6 months after his initial visit, and dental implantation was performed 6 months after bone graft reconstruction. He received a custom-fitted denture and underwent oral function evaluation, which revealed adequate restoration of oral function.
Optimal restoration of both esthetics and good oral function are essential for facial injury treatment.
