Clinical Guide: Bite Wounds

I had a request for some information on bite wounds in living patients, so I decided to create a new clinical guide on the subject. However, there are caveats to this one–I only included research that was applicable to the work we do as clinicians. Any of the research on bite mark impressions and the challenges to that science are not included here (no disrespect to our forensic odontology colleagues, but that’s a very different area of science). I have only looked at issues related to identifying, treating and swabbing for the purposes of this clinical guide. If I have left something out that you feel is particularly important, please let me know and I’ll add it in. As with all of the guides, contact me if you’d prefer a word doc with hyperlinks.

General

Arch Dis Child. 2006 Nov;91(11):951.

Can we identify abusive bites on children?

Kemp A, Maguire SA, Sibert J, Frost R, Adams C, Mann M.

 

ASDC J Dent Child. 2002 Jan-Apr;69(1):92-5, 14.

Human biting of children and oral manifestations of abuse: a case report and literature review.

Lee LY, Ilan J, Mulvey T.

 

Dent Update 2008; 35: 48-61

Forensic Dentistry: 2. Bite Marks and Bite Injuries (FULL-TEXT)

Pretty IA

 

Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Oct 15;122(1):75-8.

A forensic classification of distortion in human bite marks.

Sheasby DR, MacDonald DG.

 

Hosp Med. 2002 Aug;63(8):476-82.

Forensic dentistry and human bite marks: issues for doctors.

Pretty IA, Hall RC.

 

J Forensic Sci. 1997 Sep;42(5):792-5.

Aging of bitemarks: a literature review.

Dailey JC, Bowers CM.

 

J Forensic Sci. 2000 Jul;45(4):812-4.

Anatomical location of bitemarks and associated findings in 101 cases from the United States.

Pretty IA, Sweet D.

 

J Forensic Sci. 2007 May;52(3):687-91.

Development and validation of a human bitemark severity and significance scale.

Pretty IA.

 

J Forensic Sci. 2005 Nov;50(6):1436-43.

Seven hundred seventy eight bite marks: analysis by anatomic location, victim and biter demographics, type of crime, and legal disposition.

Freeman AJ, Senn DR, Arendt DM.

 

Pediatrics. 2005 Dec;116(6):1565-8. (Policy reaffirmed 2009)

Oral and dental aspects of child abuse and neglect. (FULL-TEXT)

Kellogg N; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.

 

 

Photography

J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2011 Dec 1;29(2):29-37.

Standards and practices for bite mark photography. (FULL-TEXT)

Golden GS.

 

Evidence Collection

J Forensic Sci. 1997 Mar;42(2):320-2.

An improved method to recover saliva from human skin: the double swab technique.

Sweet D, Lorente M, Lorente JA, Valenzuela A, Villanueva E.

 

Treatment Issues

Human Bites (2012, Medscape—log-in required)

Medical Management of Exposures: HIV, HBV, HCV, Human Bites and Sexual Assault (2012, Federal Bureau of Prisons)