Isolated globe rupture without concomitant eyelid laceration or orbital trauma following facial dog bite injury in a child.

PURPOSE

Facial dog bites often cause periorbital trauma; however, the globe is rarely damaged. Most globe injury following dog bites results from unusual circumstances and typically presents with concomitant periorbital and ocular adnexal injuries.

OBSERVATIONS

The case presented is a rare presentation of isolated globe rupture without orbital trauma following facial dog bite in a child without history or evidence of decreased blink reflex, mental deficiency, or substance use.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE

Ophthalmic investigation is warranted in all pediatric periorbital dog bite injuries, even in the setting of minimal or absent periorbital trauma. As additional blunt trauma to the globe in the immediate recovery period resulted in a second open globe injury, the critical importance of protective eyewear, activity restriction, and judicious corneal suture removal postoperatively following repair of open globe injury is discussed.