Challenging Dogma: Optimal Treatment of the “Fight Bite”

Background: The optimal treatment of human bites to the dorsal metacarpophalangeal region (ie, “fight bite”) in the absence of gross purulence is controversial. Few studies have compared the outcomes of operative debridement with expectant wound care and oral antibiotics. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients evaluated at a Level 1 trauma center over a 10-year period. We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of patients across treatment and outcome groups using the Fisher exact test. Logistic regression models were used to describe the relationships between the outcome and treatment variables. Results: We identified 115 patients with a mean age of 29 years. The mean follow-up was 51.8 days. Seventy-two (63%) patients were treated with antibiotics only. Thirty-two (28%) patients were treated with irrigation in the emergency department (ED) and expectant wound care. Eleven (9%) patients were treated with irrigation and debridement in the operating room. No demographic variables were found to correlate with the treatment selected. A 12% complication rate (major and minor) was observed. After adjusting for duration of follow-up and days to presentation, neither the treatment rendered nor the antibiotics selected influenced the rate of complications. Time to presentation >24 hours was the only variable associated with higher complication rate (P = .003). Conclusions: Not all fight bites require operative intervention. Irrigation in the ED with expectant wound care and oral antibiotics can be sufficient for patients presenting within 24 hours of injury in the absence of gross purulence.