The forearm x-rays show gas in the soft tissue; there is no foreign body visible.
The role of plain x-ray in patients with a dog (or cat) bite is to assess for:
- Underlying fractures.
- Retained foreign body such as a tooth or claw.
- Areas of soft tissue gas indicative of soft tissue laceration.
Clinically, it is important to assess for nerve & tendon injury. Impaction fractures from a dog bite may only be seen on CT. Serious vascular injuries rarely occur from dog bites.
The above patient was treated with intravenous amoxycillin and clavulanic acid, and referred to a specialist for urgent wound exploration and washout. A tetanus booster to be provided based on prior immunisation history.
Reference: https://www.ajronline.org/doi/full/10.2214/AJR.07.7123