American Society of Hirudotherapy

Partial salvage of avulsed tissue after dog bite

Case report published in Ann R Coll Surg Engl (2015)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Case reportClinical TrialsOregaard JS et al. · Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2015

Abstract

Injuries to the nose can be severe from both a functional and cosmetic perspective. After suffering a dog bite to the central part of the face, an 18-year old woman underwent replantation of the avulsed tissue with the help of microsurgical arterial anastomosis. A venous anastomosis was impossible and venous congestion was treated with leech therapy. Subsequent skin necrosis occurred after a few days and the replantation was revised, revealing healthy tissue immediately below. The defect was covered with a full-thickness skin graft. At follow-up review eight months later, the functional and cosmetic result was satisfactory. To our knowledge, this is one of few cases where an injury of this severity healed with a cosmetically acceptable result.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeCase ReportsJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsAdolescentAmputation, TraumaticAnimalsBites and StingsDogsFemaleHumansNecrosisNoseReplantationSkin TransplantationSurgical Flaps

Summary

18-year-old female with dog-bite avulsion of central face underwent replantation with microsurgical arterial anastomosis and leech therapy for venous congestion. Functional and cosmetic results satisfactory at 8 months.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This case report describes an 18-year-old woman who underwent replantation of nasally avulsed tissue after a dog bite, where venous anastomosis was impossible and venous congestion was treated with leech therapy. Some skin necrosis occurred requiring revision and a full-thickness skin graft, but the final cosmetic and functional result at eight months was satisfactory. This is directly relevant to ASH's domain as a documented clinical use of leech therapy for venous congestion following microsurgical replantation. The honest caveat is that this is a single case report, the leech therapy did not prevent partial necrosis, the exact contribution of leeching to the ultimate outcome is unclear from the abstract, and no details about leech species, number, or duration are provided.

Citation

Partial salvage of avulsed tissue after dog bite.

Oregaard JS et al. · Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2015

DOI

Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026

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