Multiple open wrist fractures and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint from a dog bite injury

Dogs are commonly kept as household pets, but sometimes pet dogs bite people. We report the case of a 69-year-old man who was bitten by his pet pit bull terrier. The dog bite resulted in multiple open wrist fractures and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint, requiring surgical debridement, open reduction and internal fixation, and bone grafting. CT of the fractures showed that the dog's maxillary canine teeth had been deeply embedded in the hamate and second metacarpal bones, requiring that the dog's mouth be opened and the teeth disengaged in order to remove the injured limb from the dog.